trouble
gb/tɹˈʌbəl/ us/tɹˈʌbəl/
A2
English
~ 1100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Difficulty or problems
A problem or something that makes life hard or stressful.
Usage pattern:
have [trouble] [doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'trouble' with 'problem' in countability. 'Trouble' is usually uncountable ('some trouble', not 'a trouble').
Synonyms
problem (More general term for something that needs to be solved; less emotional tone.)
Antonyms
solution (Refers to the answer or way to fix a difficulty, opposite of the problem itself.)
Collocations
get into trouble
|have trouble
|cause trouble
|serious trouble
|legal trouble
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He's been having trouble paying his rent lately.
- The company is in serious financial trouble.
- She knew she was in trouble when she saw the police car behind her.
- If you keep talking in class, you'll get into trouble.
- We had some trouble finding the right address.
Learner examples
- I have trouble sleeping at night.
- He is in trouble with the teacher.
- We had trouble finding the bus stop.
- She is having trouble with her homework.
- They got into trouble for being late.
Verb
B1
action
2
Cause difficulty or distress
To make someone feel worried, upset, or bothered.
Usage pattern:
to trouble [someone] with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'trouble' instead of 'bother' in casual requests; 'trouble' can sound more formal or polite in modern English.
Synonyms
bother (More informal; often used for small inconveniences.)
Antonyms
comfort (To make someone feel better and less worried, opposite of causing distress.)
Collocations
sorry to trouble you
|trouble oneself
|troubled by
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I'm sorry to trouble you, but could you help me carry this?
- It troubles me that we haven't heard from him in days.
- Don't trouble yourself about the mess—I'll clean it up.
- She was troubled by the news of the accident.
Learner examples
- Sorry to trouble you, can you help me?
- It troubles me when you are sad.
- Don't trouble yourself with this work.
- He was troubled by the bad weather.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Fault in a machine/system
A problem that stops a machine or system from working correctly.
Synonyms
fault (Technical term for a defect or imperfection.)
Antonyms
functioning (State of operating properly without faults.)
Collocations
engine trouble
|computer trouble
|technical trouble
Themes
technology
|daily life
|science
|daily_life
Examples
- The plane had engine trouble and had to land early.
- We're having some technical trouble with the website.
- The printer is giving me trouble again.
Learner examples
- My car has engine trouble.
- The TV has some trouble and won't turn on.
- We had computer trouble at work.
Grammar
Dictionary form
trouble
IPA
GB/tɹˈʌbəl/
US/tɹˈʌbəl/
Syllables & stress
trouble (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (trouble)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: trouble
- Plural: trouble, troubles
Verb
- Base: trouble
- 3rd Person Singular: troubles
- Present Participle: troubling
- Past: troubled
Word family
Forms
troubles
noun
troubling
verb
troubled
verb
Core family
troublesome
adjective B2
Related words
troublemaker
noun
Negative and opposite forms
untroubled
adjective
trouble-free
adjective
Advanced or less common
troubleshoot
verb
Expressions
get into trouble
1/ɡˈɛt ˈɪntu tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
End up in a problem situation
To do something that causes problems for you, often breaking rules or laws.
Examples
- If you cheat on the test, you'll get into trouble with the teacher.
- He got into trouble for driving without a license.
look for trouble
1/lˈʊk fɚ tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
informal
Seek conflict or problems
To act in a way that will probably cause problems or conflict.
Examples
- He was drunk and looking for trouble at the bar.
- Don't look for trouble by arguing with them.
ask for trouble
1/ˈæsk fɚ tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
informal
Do something likely to cause problems
To do something that will probably cause problems for you.
Examples
- Not wearing a helmet is just asking for trouble.
- If you keep lying to her, you're asking for trouble.
ask for trouble
2/ˈæsk fɚ tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
Do something likely to cause trouble
To do something that will probably cause problems or danger for yourself.
Examples
- Walking alone at night in that area is just asking for trouble.
- If you don't back up your files, you're asking for trouble.
in trouble
1/ˈɪn tɹˈʌbəl/
fixed phrase
in a difficult situation
Having problems or being likely to be punished.
Examples
- He knew he was in trouble when he saw his boss waiting.
- The hikers were in trouble when the storm hit.
- The company is in trouble financially.
- She's in trouble with her boss for missing the meeting.
spell trouble
1/spˈɛl tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
mean serious problems
To mean or cause serious problems.
Examples
- Falling sales could spell trouble for the company.
- The dark clouds spell trouble for our picnic plans.
spell trouble
2/spˈɛl tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
Indicate future problems
To show that something bad is likely to happen.
Examples
- Dark clouds spell trouble for our picnic.
- The new policy could spell trouble for small businesses.