The noun problem has two common meanings.
A problem is an unsatisfactory situation that needs to be dealt with.
You can say that someone has a problem or has problems.
You can also say that someone has problems doing something.
Be Careful!
Don't say that someone 'has problems to do' something. Don't say, for example, 'Many people are having problems to pay their rent'.
Don't use 'problem' with why when you are explaining why a situation has occurred. Don't say, for example, 'The problem why he couldn't come is that he is ill'. You say 'The reason why he couldn't come is that he is ill'.
Noun | 1. | ![]() difficulty - a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome; "grappling with financial difficulties" race problem - a social and political problem caused by conflict between races occupying the same or adjacent regions balance-of-payments problem - an economic problem caused by payments for imports being greater than receipts for exports |
2. | problem - a question raised for consideration or solution; "our homework consisted of ten problems to solve" question, head - the subject matter at issue; "the question of disease merits serious discussion"; "under the head of minor Roman poets" mystifier, puzzle, puzzler, teaser - a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution; "he loved to solve chessmate puzzles"; "that's a real puzzler" case - a problem requiring investigation; "Perry Mason solved the case of the missing heir" homework problem - a problem that students are assigned to do outside of class Gordian knot - any very difficult problem; insoluble in its own terms koan - a paradoxical anecdote or a riddle that has no solution; used in Zen Buddhism to show the inadequacy of logical reasoning pons asinorum - a problem that severely tests the ability of an inexperienced person rebus - a puzzle where you decode a message consisting of pictures representing syllables and words | |
3. | ![]() difficulty - a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result; "serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent" pressure point - where problems or difficulties are likely to occur; "a key pressure point in the controversy was the building permit" can of worms - a source of unpredictable trouble and complexity deep water - serious trouble growing pains - problems that arise in enlarging an enterprise (especially in the early stages) hydra - trouble that cannot be overcome by a single effort because of its many aspects or its persistent and pervasive quality; "we may be facing a hydra that defies any easy solution" matter - a problem; "is anything the matter?" |