What does trouble mean?
Trouble is a highly versatile English word used for problems, difficulties, distress, conflict, and the act of disturbing or worrying someone. As a noun, it can describe an ordinary difficulty, such as trouble completing a form, or a much more serious situation involving personal distress, legal trouble, or public unrest. As a verb, it means to cause someone difficulty or concern, often in the courteous expression “sorry to trouble you.” The word is generally negative, but its intensity depends on context: “in trouble” may indicate a minor predicament, while “serious trouble” suggests significant consequences. Trouble also has an idiomatic dimension, appearing in established expressions such as “get into trouble,” “cause trouble,” and “trouble ahead.” Because it can refer both to an objective problem and to someone’s subjective worry, it is useful for expressing difficulty across practical, personal, and social contexts.
A difficulty, problem, source of distress, or state of worry.
"The new system has been causing trouble for some users."
The countable and uncountable forms overlap in use. The plural “troubles” often means a series of problems or difficulties.
To cause someone difficulty or distress, or to disturb or worry them.
"The noise outside is troubling the children."
Often used in polite or apologetic expressions such as “sorry to trouble you.”
The plural commonly refers to multiple problems, difficulties, or troublesome circumstances.
"The company has been in financial troubles for several months."
Trouble begins in the image of a crowd: its Latin ancestor, turba, meant a tumultuous gathering.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of trouble
The English word comes through Middle English from Old French trouble or turbe, which was borrowed from Latin turbare, meaning “to disturb” or “to trouble.” Latin turbare developed from turba, a word meaning “crowd” or “tumult,” so the word’s history links personal disturbance with the agitation and confusion of a gathering. Related English words such as turbulent, perturb, turbid, and turbulence continue to reflect this Latin root.
Related word forms
How trouble is actually used
The noun is neutral to strongly negative, ranging from an inconvenience to serious distress or conflict. The verb can sound formal in expressions such as “trouble yourself,” while informal uses often mean to worry or bother someone.
Easily confused with trouble
Trouble can refer to any difficulty or personal problem, whereas turmoil usually means intense, often political or social disorder.