Trouble

Trouble is a broad noun and verb in English that denotes difficulty, distress, or danger. As a noun, it refers to problems or dangerous situations that cause worry, inconvenience, or risk. It can apply to a wide range of contexts, from everyday mishaps to larger crises.

As a verb, to trouble means to cause someone distress or inconvenience, or to disturb or worry. For example, a broken car can trouble its owner, and someone may be troubled by a difficult decision. The phrase in trouble means being in a problematic or dangerous situation.

Common types include personal or emotional trouble (inner conflict, anxiety), financial trouble (debt, insolvency), legal trouble (trials, sanctions), technical trouble (malfunctions, outages), and social or political trouble (conflicts, protests).

Causes vary from errors and miscommunication to misfortune and systemic problems. Effects can range from minor disruption to lasting harm, and responses may involve problem solving, seeking help, or resilience efforts. Language use distinguishes trouble as a neutral descriptor and as a moral or normative judgment in contexts like 'get into trouble' or 'cause trouble.'

Trouble appears in many idioms and cultural references, underscoring its role in everyday life as well as risk assessment and decision making. Related terms include problem, difficulty, danger, distress, and risk.