issue
issue — verb
- issuepresent simple I / you / we / they
- issues3rd person singular
- issuing-ing form
- issuedpast simple
1. to make an official document, ticket, passport, or public statement available fo
to make an official document, ticket, passport, or public statement available for people to receive or use.
The government will issue new passports to all citizens who apply before December.
issue + [document] + to + [recipient]
Minho's company issues tickets for buses and trains throughout the country.
issue + [ticket] + for + [service]
Last week the principal issued a formal apology to the students' families.
Noor's visa was issued by the embassy just three days before her flight.
- publish
more specific to printed or digital content such as books, articles, and reports
- release
more general in tone; can apply to products, music, films, as well as documents
- distribute
focuses on the act of giving out or spreading, with less emphasis on official production
文法句型
issue + [document/permit/statement] + to + [recipient]
be issued + by + [authority]
用法筆記
Frequently used in official or administrative contexts. The direct object is typically a document, permit, ticket, passport, or formal statement. Often followed by 'to' to indicate the recipient, or used in the passive voice ('be issued by').
常見錯誤
issue — noun
- issuesingular
- issuesplural
1. a question, topic, or situation that people discuss publicly, especially when it
a question, topic, or situation that people discuss publicly, especially when it involves different opinions and affects many people
The issue of rising housing costs has become a major concern for young families.
issue + of + noun phrase
At the meeting, residents raised several issues about the new school building.
collocation: raise an issue
Climate change remains a deeply controversial issue across the political spectrum.
Tara wrote a newspaper article that explored the issue of food waste in local supermarkets.
Yuki told me the committee discussed the budget issue for over two hours.
文法句型
issue + of + noun/gerund
issue + about + noun
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often used with the preposition 'of' to specify what topic is being referred to (e.g., 'the issue of climate change'). Subject is typically a societal or practical matter rather than a personal feeling.
常見錯誤
2. the exact question or specific point that two sides disagree about and that need
the exact question or specific point that two sides disagree about and that needs a decision, especially in a legal or formal discussion
The point at issue is whether the company broke its contract with the workers.
fixed phrase: the point at issue
After hours of debate, the issue came down to a single question of safety standards.
Both lawyers agreed that the real issue was the meaning of the original agreement.
The judge said the issue before the court was whether the new law could be applied retroactively.
- point of contention
more formal; specifically the thing being argued over
- subject of debate
emphasises that people are actively arguing
- question
a simpler, less formal alternative
文法句型
the point at issue
the issue at hand
the real issue
用法筆記
This sense is typically singular and formal. The fixed phrase 'the point at issue' refers to the specific matter being argued. Distinguish from sense 1 (TOPIC) — sense 2 focuses on the exact point of dispute that requires resolution, whereas sense 1 covers any subject under general discussion.
常見錯誤
3. something unimportant that someone treats as a big problem or serious matter, of
something unimportant that someone treats as a big problem or serious matter, often causing unnecessary argument or worry
João made an issue of the table being two centimetres away from the wall.
phrase: make an issue of something
Asher told his sister not to make an issue out of who got the bigger slice of cake.
phrase: make an issue out of something
Her boss kept making an issue of small typing errors that nobody else noticed.
Lien sighed and said, "Please do not make an issue of every tiny mistake I make."
- make a fuss (over)
more general; can be about positive or negative things
- overreact (to)
focuses on the emotional reaction rather than the argument
文法句型
make an issue of + noun/gerund
make an issue out of + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the fixed phrases 'make an issue of something' or 'make an issue out of something.' The object is typically a minor detail or a trivial action. Distinguish from sense 4 (CONFLICT) — sense 3 is about exaggerating the importance of something, not about having a disagreement itself.
常見錯誤
4. a strong disagreement or angry feeling between two people or groups, often cause
a strong disagreement or angry feeling between two people or groups, often caused by a difference of opinion or a personal problem
Emre has had an issue with his neighbour ever since the fence was built.
phrase: have an issue with someone
The two managers have an issue that none of the staff dares to mention at meetings.
Noa told me she had a serious issue with one of the members of her study group.
Olivia and Christopher had an issue last year, but they eventually made up.
- problem (with)
less specific; can refer to any difficulty, not just interpersonal
- quarrel
implies an active verbal argument
- dispute
more formal; often used for business or legal conflicts
文法句型
have an issue with + person
用法筆記
Used in the phrase 'have an issue with [someone].' The disagreement is usually personal and may be ongoing rather than a single argument. Distinguish from sense 5 (OBJECTION) — sense 4 involves conflict with a person, while sense 5 is about disliking or objecting to a thing or situation.
常見錯誤
5. a feeling of personal dislike, disapproval, or unease toward a particular thing,
a feeling of personal dislike, disapproval, or unease toward a particular thing, situation, or type of behaviour that stops you from accepting it or feeling comfortable with it
Zuri has an issue with people who talk loudly on the phone in public places.
phrase: have an issue with [behaviour]
Some voters have an issue with the new policy because it raises taxes for small businesses.
Élise said she had no issue with working late, as long as she was told in advance.
The teacher had an issue with students using their phones during class.
- objection (to)
more formal; implies a stronger moral or practical opposition
- problem (with)
more general; can also refer to practical difficulties
- reservation (about)
implies doubt or uncertainty rather than full disapproval
文法句型
have an issue with + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Used in the phrase 'have an issue with [something].' The object is a thing, situation, or type of behaviour rather than a person. The negative form 'have no issue with' is very common and means 'have no objection to.' Distinguish from sense 4 (CONFLICT) — sense 5 is about personal disapproval of a thing, not a disagreement with a person.
常見錯誤
6. a difficulty, problem, or source of worry that someone faces when dealing with a
a difficulty, problem, or source of worry that someone faces when dealing with a situation, a piece of equipment, or another person
Christopher has been having issues with his internet connection all week.
phrase: have issues with [equipment]
The new software caused several technical issues that took days to fix.
Many passengers experienced flight delays due to safety issues with the aircraft.
Erik told his landlord about the damp issues in the apartment bathroom.
- problem
the most direct and common synonym; slightly more direct in tone
- difficulty
can suggest something that is hard to deal with rather than broken
- complication
implies something that makes a situation more complex
- solution
the answer or fix to an issue
文法句型
have issues with + noun/gerund
have + noun + issues
用法筆記
Often used in the plural ('issues') to refer to ongoing or multiple problems. The phrase 'have issues with' can refer to practical problems (sense 6) rather than personal objections (sense 5). Distinguish from sense 1 (TOPIC) — sense 6 refers to a concrete difficulty, while sense 1 refers to a subject of discussion.
常見錯誤
7. a particular edition of a magazine, newspaper, or other regularly published work
a particular edition of a magazine, newspaper, or other regularly published work, identified by its date or number in the series.
The spring issue of the gardening magazine featured an article on growing roses.
the [season] issue of [magazine]
Have you seen the latest issue of The Economist, Yan?
the latest issue of [publication]
The librarian asked Nora to return the missing issue of the academic journal.
Ayesha bought a rare first issue of that comic book at an online auction.
The issue dated June 2023 included photographs taken at the royal wedding.
文法句型
the [season/month] issue of [magazine/newspaper]
the latest issue of [publication]
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'the' and a time word: 'the January issue', 'the winter issue', 'the latest issue'. For verb uses of 'issue' meaning 'to publish', see issue (verb), sense 1.
常見錯誤
8. a set of shares, bonds, or other financial products that a company or government
a set of shares, bonds, or other financial products that a company or government offers for sale to the public on one occasion.
The company announced a new issue of shares to raise money for new factories.
issue of shares: selling new stock to investors
Investors rushed to buy the latest bond issue, which offered a high rate of interest.
bond issue: selling government or corporate bonds
Renata's bank managed the stock issue for a small technology company.
The government's bond issue raised over five billion dollars for road projects.
The company's rights issue gave shareholders the chance to buy extra shares at a discount.
文法句型
an issue of [shares/bonds]
a [bond/share/stock] issue
用法筆記
Common in financial news and official documents. Subject is usually a company or government. The most frequent patterns are 'an issue of shares' and 'a bond issue'. For the act of making something available in general (not just finance), see sense 9.
常見錯誤
9. the official process of making something available to the public, such as publis
the official process of making something available to the public, such as publishing a document, distributing supplies, or giving out official items.
The issue of new passports was delayed because of a computer problem at the office.
the issue of [official items]
The government announced the issue of emergency supplies to families affected by the flood.
the issue of [supplies] to [recipients]
The issue of the official report is planned for next Monday morning.
Bilal helped with the issue of new identification cards to all staff members.
The issue of parking permits begins tomorrow at the town hall office.
- distribution
emphasises the act of giving items out to many people
- publication
specifically about making information available in printed or digital form
- release
more general; can apply to products, reports, or news
文法句型
the issue of [something]
the issue of [items] to [recipients]
用法筆記
Often uncountable and preceded by 'the'. The most common pattern is 'the issue of [something]'. This sense is about the action itself, not the copies produced — for the copies themselves, see sense 7 (PUBLICATION) for magazines or sense 8 (FINANCIAL OFFER) for shares.
常見錯誤
10. a person's children or the generations that follow them in the family line, used
a person's children or the generations that follow them in the family line, used especially in legal and formal contexts to refer to all direct descendants.
The elderly duke died without issue, so his estate passed to a distant cousin.
die without issue: die with no children
The will said the land would belong to his issue for the next five generations.
According to the family records, she had issue from two different marriages.
In legal documents, the word issue refers to all direct descendants, not only children.
- descendants
broader; can include all future generations, not just immediate children
- offspring
formal but less legal; can also refer to animals
- progeny
very formal; rare in modern English
文法句型
without issue
die without issue
leave no issue
have issue
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense — never 'an issue' or 'issues' when referring to descendants. Almost always appears in fixed legal phrases: 'die without issue', 'leave no issue', 'have issue'. This is an archaic/formal use; in everyday English, use 'children', 'descendants', or 'offspring' instead.