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¹trouble

verb trou·ble \ˈtrə-bəl\

: to make (someone) feel worried or upset

: to disturb or bother (someone)

: to cause (someone) to feel pain

trou·bledtrou·bling \ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ\

Full Definition of TROUBLE

transitive verb

a : to agitate mentally or spiritually : worry, disturb

b (1) archaic : mistreat, oppress (2) : to produce physical disorder in : afflict <troubled by a cold>

c : to put to exertion or inconvenience <I'm sorry to trouble you>

: to put into confused motion <the wind troubled the sea>

intransitive verb

: to become mentally agitated : worry <refused to trouble over trifles>

: to make an effort : be at pains <did not trouble to come>

— trou·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

See trouble defined for English-language learners

See trouble defined for kids

Origin of TROUBLE

Middle English, from Anglo-French trubler, from Vulgar Latin *turbulare, from *turbulus agitated, alteration of Latin turbulentus — more at turbulent

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to TROUBLE

Synonyms: bother, fear, fret, fuss, stew, stress, sweat, worry

Antonyms: accommodate, favor, oblige

Rhymes with TROUBLE

bubble, double, Hubble, nubble, rubble, stubble

²trouble

noun

: problems or difficulties

: a situation that is difficult or has a lot of problems

: a situation that occurs if you do something wrong or break a rule and which will make someone angry or cause you to be punished

Full Definition of TROUBLE

: the quality or state of being troubled especially mentally

: public unrest or disturbance <there's trouble brewing downtown>

: an instance of trouble <used to disguise her frustrations and despair by making light of her troubles — Current Biography>

: a state or condition of distress, annoyance, or difficulty <in trouble with the law> <heading for trouble> <got into financial trouble>: as

a : a condition of physical distress or ill health : ailment <back trouble> <heart trouble>

b : a condition of mechanical malfunction <engine trouble>

c : a condition of doing something badly or only with great difficulty <has trouble reading> <has trouble breathing>

d : pregnancy out of wedlock <got a girl in trouble>

: an effort made : pains <took the trouble to do it right>

a : a cause of distress, annoyance, or inconvenience <don't mean to be any trouble> <what's the trouble?>

b : a negative feature : drawback <the trouble with you is you're too honest> <the main trouble with electronic systems is the overreliance on them — John Perham>

c : the unhappy or sad fact <the trouble is, I need the money>

See trouble defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of TROUBLE

13th century

Related to TROUBLE

Synonyms: affection, ail, ailment, bug, complaint, complication, condition, disorder, distemper, distemperature, fever, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, disease

Antonyms: health, wellness

Rhymes with TROUBLE

bubble, double, rubble

TROUBLING Defined for Kids

¹trouble

noun trou·ble \ˈtrə-bəl\

Definition of TROUBLE for Kids

: something that causes worry or distress : misfortune <I've suffered many troubles.>

: an instance of distress or disturbance <Don't make trouble.>

: extra work or effort <They took the trouble to write.>

: ill health : ailment <“Your trouble comes from years of wearing the wrong kind of shoes,” Jake lectured. — Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game>

: failure to work normally <He had trouble with the engine.>

²trouble

verb

trou·bledtrou·bling

Definition of TROUBLE for Kids

: to become or make worried or upset <… reading this book will make you feel anxious, because you will be troubled by the disturbing suspense … — Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator>

: to produce physical disorder in : afflict <He's troubled with weak knees.>

: to put to inconvenience <Don't trouble yourself; I can do it.>

: to make an effort <Do not trouble to write.>