PROBLEM | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

PROBLEM refers to a situation, person, or thing that requires attention and must be dealt with. It is commonly used to denote something that poses a difficulty or complication that needs a solution. Related terms include various collocations and synonyms that describe contexts in which a problem can appear.

Original meaning: a situation, person, or thing that needs attention and needs to be dealt with. Related words and phrases illustrate how the term is used in combination with other concepts.

In everyday usage, a problem can be:

Common examples show how phrases like “solve a problem” or “face a problem” appear in sentences to express dealing with challenges.

Summary: A problem is anything that presents a difficulty requiring consideration and resolution, often accompanied by related terms and collocations to express specific contexts.

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Cambridge Dictionary Cambridge Dictionary — 2025-11-18