issues
issues — verb
- issuespresent simple I / you / we / they
- issueses3rd person singular
- issuesing-ing form
- issuesedpast simple
1. to officially produce a document, statement, or other official item and make it
to officially produce a document, statement, or other official item and make it available for people to use or know about.
The city council issued a warning about the flood risk in low-lying areas.
issue + warning (official notice)
New safety guidelines were issued to all factory workers this morning.
passive: be issued to [recipient]
The embassy issued Anjali her student visa within three working days.
Kenji issued a formal apology for his comments during the televised debate.
issue + apology (formal statement of regret)
Each new recruit was issued a uniform, a helmet, and a pair of boots.
issue + indirect object + direct object
- issue a statement
- issue a warning
- issue a passport
- issue a permit
- issue a recall
- issue guidelines
- issue instructions
- issue an apology
- publish
more specific to printed or digital materials made available to the public
- distribute
focuses on the act of handing things out rather than producing them
- release
often used for making information or media available to the public
Grammar Patterns
issue + noun phrase (statement, warning, passport)
issue + noun phrase + to + noun phrase (recipient)
issue + indirect object + direct object (double-object)
Usage Note
Often passive. The agent (the person or body that issues) is usually an official organisation such as a government, company, or institution.
Common Mistakes
2. to come out or flow out from a particular place or source — used about smoke, wa
to come out or flow out from a particular place or source — used about smoke, water, sound, light, or smells.
Thick grey smoke issued from the chimney of the old factory.
issue from + place (formal)
A strange sweet smell issued from the wooden box on the shelf.
issue from a source (smell)
Warm air issued through the vents when Henrik turned on the heating.
A faint sound of music issued from behind the closed classroom door.
- issue from the chimney
- issue from a pipe
- issue from a source
- enter
to go into a place
Grammar Patterns
issue + from + noun phrase (place/source)
issue + forth (archaic/formal)
Usage Note
This sense is restricted to formal or literary writing. In everyday speech, speakers would say 'come out of' or 'flow out of' instead.
Common Mistakes
issues — noun
- issuessingular
- issuesesplural
1. A topic or concern that people discuss, argue about, or try to solve — for examp
A topic or concern that people discuss, argue about, or try to solve — for example, a political issue, a health issue, or a family issue.
Theo raised the issue of climate change at the town meeting.
collocation: raise an issue (bring up a topic)
The company is working hard to address safety issues after the factory inspection.
collocation: address an issue (try to solve a problem)
Healthcare remains a key issue for voters ahead of the national election.
Nia wrote a report on environmental issues affecting local rivers and forests.
The professor asked the students to debate the issue of free public transport.
debate an issue (discuss opposing views)
- raise an issue
- address an issue
- key issue
- political issue
- social issue
Grammar Patterns
issue + about/of + noun phrase
Usage Note
Often used with verbs like raise, address, discuss, or tackle. The preposition about introduces the specific content of the issue.
Common Mistakes
2. Describes the most important point or question that is being discussed or argued
Describes the most important point or question that is being discussed or argued about in a situation.
The salary was not what mattered; at issue was whether the job offered any chance of growth.
fixed phrase: be at issue
Both sides agreed on most points, but the cost remained the matter at issue.
What is at issue here is not the price but the quality of the materials.
what is at issue — clause structure
At issue in the court case was whether the company had broken the law.
- be at issue
- the matter/point at issue
- what is at issue
- in question
slightly less formal, same fixed-phrase structure
- under debate
emphasises the arguing aspect
Grammar Patterns
be at issue — used after a linking verb
Usage Note
This is a fixed phrase — it cannot be broken up (e.g. 'the issue at' is not correct). It is more formal than 'what matters' or 'the real question'.
3. To treat something as a bigger problem than it really is, often by complaining o
To treat something as a bigger problem than it really is, often by complaining or arguing about it unnecessarily.
Ravindra was ten minutes late, but his boss made an issue of it and scolded him.
make an issue of + it (referring to a minor thing)
Adaeze did not want to make an issue of the time and cause tension.
The waiter brought the wrong drink, but Talia saw no point in making an issue of it.
make an issue of + it, avoiding conflict
Camila made an issue of the broken printer and demanded a new one right away.
- make an issue of it
- make an issue of the fact that...
- not want to make an issue
- make a fuss about
more informal, stronger complaining tone
- blow out of proportion
idiomatic, emphasises exaggeration
Grammar Patterns
make an issue of + noun/gerund
Usage Note
This phrase has a negative tone — it implies the speaker thinks the reaction is too strong for the situation. It is common in spoken and informal written English.
Common Mistakes
4. To express strong disagreement with someone's statement, idea, or action.
To express strong disagreement with someone's statement, idea, or action.
Lucas took issue with the reporter's claim about local benefits.
take issue with + claim/statement
Several scientists took issue with the study's methods and sample size.
Hui took issue with her colleague's suggestion that the project was a waste of money.
take issue with + person's suggestion
The union took issue with management over the new working hours.
- take issue with someone
- take issue with the idea/claim/statement
- take issue strongly
- agree with
opposite meaning — expressing support rather than disagreement
Grammar Patterns
take issue with + noun/person/statement
Usage Note
More formal than 'disagree with'. Often used in academic writing, journalism, or formal debates. The disagreement is usually expressed openly rather than just felt.
Common Mistakes
5. To feel negative about someone or something in a way that affects how you behave
To feel negative about someone or something in a way that affects how you behave toward them — often about personal dislikes or emotional difficulties.
Anya has issues with public speaking and gets very nervous before presentations.
have issues with + gerund (doing something)
The new manager had issues with how the team handled customer complaints.
Brian has issues with loud noises, so he wears earplugs on the train.
have issues with + noun (specific trigger)
Lakshmi had issues with the hotel room being too small for her family.
- have issues with someone
- have issues with authority
- trust issues
- anger issues
- have a problem with
more direct, similar level of formality
- have concerns about
more formal, less emotional
- be comfortable with
feeling no negative feelings about something
Grammar Patterns
have issues with + noun/person/gerund
Usage Note
This phrase is common in informal conversation and can sound vague. In formal writing, 'have concerns about' or 'have objections to' may be more appropriate. Can also refer to emotional or psychological struggles ('trust issues', 'anger issues').
Common Mistakes
6. To experience ongoing problems, difficulties, or disagreements in a situation or
To experience ongoing problems, difficulties, or disagreements in a situation or relationship.
Sirin and her roommate have issues over cleaning duties and noise after midnight.
have issues + over + topic of disagreement
The software team has been having issues with the new server since last week.
Pim and Mateo had some issues during the group project and needed to talk things through.
have issues — unspecified interpersonal problems
Sophia is having issues with her internet connection at home.
- have issues with
- having issues
- family issues
- technical issues
- relationship issues
- have problems with
more direct, slightly less idiomatic
- struggle with
stronger, suggests an ongoing effort
- get along with
opposite — having no difficulties in a relationship
Grammar Patterns
have issues (with + noun/person)
Usage Note
Often left vague on purpose — the speaker acknowledges a problem without specifying the exact details. When followed by 'with', it introduces the person or thing causing the difficulty.
Common Mistakes
7. one part of a regularly produced newspaper, magazine, or journal, identified by
one part of a regularly produced newspaper, magazine, or journal, identified by its date or its position in the series
The latest [hl]issue[/hl] of Anong's favourite fashion magazine arrived this morning.
issue + of + publication name
Selim bought a rare first [hl]issue[/hl] of a 1960s comic book at auction.
Eitan subscribes to the journal and receives a new [hl]issue[/hl] every month.
subscribe + receive + issue
The library keeps old [hl]issue[/hl]s of National Geographic going back to 1920.
- latest issue
- current issue
- first issue
- back issue
- issue of
Common Mistakes
8. a process by which a company sells new stock to investors or provides extra shar
a process by which a company sells new stock to investors or provides extra shares to its existing shareholders
The firm announced a new [hl]issue[/hl] of shares to fund its overseas expansion.
issue of shares + to fund/invest
Zuri bought shares in last month's stock [hl]issue[/hl] after reading the company report.
The rights [hl]issue[/hl] let existing shareholders buy more stock at a discount price.
rights issue — shareholders buy at discount
Investors liked the share [hl]issue[/hl] and bought all stock within a week.
- share issue
- stock issue
- rights issue
- new issue
- issue of shares
- offering
broader term that may include bonds and other securities
- floatation
refers specifically to the first time a company offers shares to the public
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'of shares' or 'stock issue'. Common in financial news and company announcements.
9. an official process in which documents, permits, or other items are given out to
an official process in which documents, permits, or other items are given out to the people who need or request them
The government confirmed that the [hl]issue[/hl] of new passports will begin next month.
issue of [official documents]
The bank handles the [hl]issue[/hl] of credit cards for all its customers.
The postal service announced the [hl]issue[/hl] of stamps featuring Taiwan's native birds.
issue of stamps — collectable
Hoa went to the town hall to apply for the [hl]issue[/hl] of a fishing licence.
- issue of passports
- issue of permits
- issue of licences
- issue of documents
- distribution
focuses on the act of giving things out rather than the official authorisation
Usage Note
Subject is typically an authority or institution (government, bank, agency). Object is typically official documents, licences, permits, or stamps.
10. the way something ends or the answer that is reached after a discussion or proce
the way something ends or the answer that is reached after a discussion or process
After months of negotiation, they brought the dispute to a successful [hl]issue[/hl].
bring to a successful issue — formal fixed expression
The board voted three times, but the meeting reached no clear [hl]issue[/hl].
The committee hopes to bring the long debate to a final [hl]issue[/hl] by Friday.
bring to a final issue — fixed phrase
The lawyers could not agree, so the matter came to no satisfactory [hl]issue[/hl].
- successful issue
- bring to an issue
- final issue
- outcome
the standard modern word for a final result
- result
more general; can refer to any consequence, not necessarily final
- resolution
emphasises the solving of a problem or conflict
Usage Note
This sense is now rare in everyday English. It survives mainly in fixed formal phrases such as 'bring something to a successful issue' or 'reach an issue'. The more common word for this meaning today is 'outcome' or 'result'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
在中文裡，issue、problem、matter、concern、subject 都可譯為「問題」或「議題」，但用法有別。Problem 強調需要解決的具體困難或麻煩（例如 a financial problem），語氣較負面。Issue 則較中性，指人們討論或關心的話題（例如 environmental issues），不一定需要「解決」，有時只是需要「討論」。Matter 是較正式的說法（例如 a matter of public safety），口吻比較嚴肅。Concern 側重於「讓人擔憂」的事（例如 safety concerns），帶有情感色彩。Subject 則是最廣泛的用詞，指任何討論或學習的對象（例如 the subject of the lecture），不帶任何問題或困難的涵義。例如：Healthcare is a key political issue.（醫療保健是關鍵政治議題）與 We need to solve this problem first.（我們需要先解決這個問題）顯示 issue 與 problem 的焦點不同。
Common collocations
Nouns
- raise an issue
- address an issue
- tackle an issue
- resolve an issue
- avoid an issue
- discuss an issue
- bring up an issue
- sidestep an issue
Phrases
- political issue
- social issue
- major issue
- sensitive issue
- controversial issue
- key issue
- ethical issue
- environmental issue
- issue date
- issue number
- issue price
- issue of shares
Etymology
The word 'issue' entered English in the 13th century from Old French 'issue', meaning 'a way out' or 'exit'. The Old French noun came from the feminine past participle of 'issir' (to go out), tracing back to Latin 'exīre' — a combination of 'ex-' (out) and 'īre' (to go). Its earliest English sense was literally 'an exit or passage out'. Over time the meaning broadened: from 'what comes out or results' (outcome, offspring), to 'a point of discussion or debate' (the most common noun sense today), and to 'the act of sending something forth' (as in issuing a document or statement). The verb form developed in the 16th century from the noun, carrying the sense of 'to cause to come forth'.
First known use
14th century
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 9 Verb