problem – English noun declension

English noun forms of problem

Noun: problem
Singularproblem
Pluralproblems

Sample Sentences

  • She's leaving because she faced numerous problems to do with racism.
  • “[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.” [1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:]
  • Kate's very good with problems, Chief Inspector. Other people's, anyway. [1999 February 3, Anthony Horowitz et al., “Strangler's Wood”, in Midsomer Murders:]
  • The perfume industry is facing a major problem: maintaining constant levels of quality is crucial, but it is increasingly difficult to obtain a regular supply of all the necessary natural ingredients. [2014 March 7, Nicole Vulser, “Perfume manufacturers must cope with the scarcity of precious supplies”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 190, number 13, page 30:]
  • I think he has a gambling problem. Lending him money will probably only make it worse.
  • I think he has a nose candy problem. Lending him money will probably only make it worse.
  • Study hard, but don't overdo it. The problems in the exam won't be difficult to solve.
  • You got a problem with that?
  • You made your best honest effort; if they judge you harshly, that’s their problem, not yours.

Etymology

From Middle English probleme, from Middle French probleme, from Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “anything thrown forward, hindrance, obstacle, anything projecting, a headland, promontory”), from προβάλλω (probállō, “to throw or lay something in front of someone, to put forward”), from προ- (pro-, “in front of”) + βάλλω (bállō, “to throw, to cast, to hurl”). Doublet of problema. See: Middle English Nouns 'probleme', Latin Nouns 'problēma', Ancient Greek Nouns 'πρόβλημα'.