Issue — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈi-(ˌ)shü/ is·sue

Meaning & Definition of Issue

Issue (noun)

  1. a vital or unsettled matter
  2. concern, problem
  3. a matter that is in dispute between two or more parties

Issue (verb)

  1. to put forth or distribute usually officially
  2. to send out for sale or circulation, publish
  3. provide, supply

Issue (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

    "one of the issues of the Civil War was a resolution to the question of states' rights"

    similar: aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot, matter of course
    related: ramification, denouement, echo, implication, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off
    opposite: antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
    near: consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring

  2. a place or means of going out

    "since the lake is the issue of the polluted river, it is becoming polluted as well"

    similar: egress, exit, outlet
    related: escape, escape hatch, release, gate, mouth, opening, passage, vent
    opposite: entrance, entranceway, entry, entryway, ingress
    near: access, entrée

  3. the descendants of a person, animal, or plant

    "someone who dies without issue might have their estate turned over to the state"

    similar: fruit, get, offspring, posterity, progeny, seed, spawn
    related: brood, hatch, litter, young, child, scion, family, kin, lineage, stock
    near: ancestor, antecedent, father, forebear, forebearer, forefather, grandfather, parent, primogenitor, progenitor

Issue (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to produce and release for distribution in printed form

    "plans to issue a monthly newsletter"

    similar: get out, print, publish, put out, come out with
    related: copublish, reissue, reprint, republish, serialize, contribute, edit, syndicate, manufacture, produce, distribute, market
    near: censor, suppress

  2. to throw or give off

    "a volcano issuing vast clouds of hot ash"

    similar: cast, discharge, emanate, emit, evolve, exhale, expel, expire (archaic), give out, irradiate, radiate, release, send (out), shoot, throw out, vent
    related: eliminate, evacuate, excrete, exude, ooze, secrete, eject, erupt, gush, jet, outpour, pour, spew, spout, spray, spurt, squirt
    near: absorb, inhale, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up

Related Entry: Standard-issue (adjective)

Standard-issue is a different word from Issue. The synonyms below are for standard-issue, not for issue.

  1. being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events

    "another standard-issue thriller with a man on the run desperately trying to find the baddie who framed him for murder"

    similar: average, common, commonplace, cut-and-dried, everyday, garden-variety, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday, par for the course
    related: regular, typical, unextraordinary, familiar, homely, plain, plain-Jane, popular, vulgar, natural, customary, wonted, insignificant, trivial, unimportant, frequent, habitual, expected, predictable
    opposite: abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual
    near: curious, funny, peculiar, quaint, queer, aberrant, anomalous, atypical, irregular, untypical, rare, recherché, scarce, fantastic, phenomenal, bizarre, far-out, Kafkaesque, outrageous, outré, wacky, way-out, weird, wild, eccentric, idiosyncratic, kooky, nonconformist, oddball, offbeat, unconventional, unorthodox, freak, freakish, conspicuous, notable, novel, outstanding, prominent, salient, signal, striking, unexampled, unprecedented, singular, unique, unparalleled

Related Entry: Take issue (phrase)

Take issue is a different word from Issue. The synonyms below are for take issue, not for issue.

  1. to have a different opinion

    "She took issue with the way the department was run."

    similar: differ, disagree, dissent, nonconcur
    related: clash, collide, conflict, contrast, counter, debate, object, oppose, protest, resist, contest, dispute, argue, bicker, fall out, quarrel
    opposite: agree, assent, concur
    near: accede, accept, acquiesce, comply, consent, defer, subscribe, affiliate, ally, associate, collaborate, collude, come round, compromise, cooperate, get along, side

  2. to present an opposing opinion or argument

    "He took issue with their explanation of what happened in his report."

    similar: demur, except, expostulate, kick, object, protest, remonstrate, take exception
    related: cavil, quibble, challenge, dare, defy, fight, conflict, debate, dispute, hassle, quarrel, squabble, wrangle, beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, keen, maunder (chiefly British), moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer, yawp, yowl, balk, gag, stick, censure, criticize, denounce, disobey, rebel, withstand, demonstrate
    near: approve, sanction, accept, accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, adhere, comply, conform, follow, mind, obey, observe, advocate, champion, defend, maintain, support, sustain, uphold, applaud, cheer, commend

Related Entry: Taken issue (phrase)

Taken issue is a different word from Issue. The synonyms below are for taken issue, not for issue.

  1. to have a different opinion

    "She took issue with the way the department was run."

    similar: differed, disagreed, dissented, nonconcurred
    related: clashed, collided, conflicted, contrasted, countered, debated, objected, opposed, protested, resisted, contested, disputed, argued, bickered, fallen out, quarreled
    opposite: agreed, assented, concurred
    near: acceded, accepted, acquiesced, complied, consented, deferred, subscribed, affiliated, allied, associated, collaborated, colluded, come round, compromised, cooperated, got along, sided

  2. to present an opposing opinion or argument

    "He took issue with their explanation of what happened in his report."

    similar: demurred, excepted, expostulated, kicked, objected, protested, remonstrated, taken exception
    related: caviled, quibbled, challenged, dared, defied, fought, conflicted, debated, disputed, hassled, quarreled, squabbled, wrangled, beefed, bellyached, bitched, bleated, carped, caterwauled, complained, crabbed, croaked, fussed, griped, grizzled, grouched, groused, growled, grumbled, grumped, hollered, keened, maundered (chiefly British), moaned, murmured, muttered, nagged, repined, screamed, squawked, squealed, wailed, whimpered, whined, whinged (British), yammered, yawped, yowled, balked, gagged, stuck, censured, criticized, denounced, disobeyed, rebelled, withstood, demonstrated
    near: approved, sanctioned, accepted, acceded, acquiesced, agreed, assented, adhered, complied, conformed, followed, minded, obeyed, observed, advocated, championed, defended, maintained, supported, sustained, upheld, applauded, cheered, commended

Related Entry: Took issue (phrase)

Took issue is a different word from Issue. The synonyms below are for took issue, not for issue.

  1. to have a different opinion

    "She took issue with the way the department was run."

    similar: differed, disagreed, dissented, nonconcurred
    related: clashed, collided, conflicted, contrasted, countered, debated, objected, opposed, protested, resisted, contested, disputed, argued, bickered, fell out, quarreled
    opposite: agreed, assented, concurred
    near: acceded, accepted, acquiesced, complied, consented, deferred, subscribed, affiliated, allied, associated, came round, collaborated, colluded, compromised, cooperated, got along, sided

  2. to present an opposing opinion or argument

    "He took issue with their explanation of what happened in his report."

    similar: demurred, excepted, expostulated, kicked, objected, protested, remonstrated, took exception
    related: caviled, quibbled, challenged, dared, defied, fought, conflicted, debated, disputed, hassled, quarreled, squabbled, wrangled, beefed, bellyached, bitched, bleated, carped, caterwauled, complained, crabbed, croaked, fussed, griped, grizzled, grouched, groused, growled, grumbled, grumped, hollered, keened, maundered (chiefly British), moaned, murmured, muttered, nagged, repined, screamed, squawked, squealed, wailed, whimpered, whined, whinged (British), yammered, yawped, yowled, balked, gagged, stuck, censured, criticized, denounced, disobeyed, rebelled, withstood, demonstrated
    near: approved, sanctioned, accepted, acceded, acquiesced, agreed, assented, adhered, complied, conformed, followed, minded, obeyed, observed, advocated, championed, defended, maintained, supported, sustained, upheld, applauded, cheered, commended

Related Entry: Takes issue (phrase)

Takes issue is a different word from Issue. The synonyms below are for takes issue, not for issue.

  1. to have a different opinion

    "She took issue with the way the department was run."

    similar: differs, disagrees, dissents, nonconcurs
    related: clashes, collides, conflicts, contrasts, counters, debates, objects, opposes, protests, resists, contests, disputes, argues, bickers, falls out, quarrels
    opposite: agrees, assents, concurs
    near: accedes, accepts, acquiesces, complies, consents, defers, subscribes, affiliates, allies, associates, collaborates, colludes, comes round, compromises, cooperates, gets along, sides

  2. to present an opposing opinion or argument

    "He took issue with their explanation of what happened in his report."

    similar: demurs, excepts, expostulates, kicks, objects, protests, remonstrates, takes exception
    related: cavils, quibbles, challenges, dares, defies, fights, conflicts, debates, disputes, hassles, quarrels, squabbles, wrangles, beefs, bellyaches, bitches, bleats, carps, caterwauls, complains, crabs, croaks, fusses, gripes, grizzles, grouches, grouses, growls, grumbles, grumps, hollers, keens, maunders (chiefly British), moans, murmurs, mutters, nags, repines, screams, squawks, squeals, wails, whimpers, whines, whinges (British), yammers, yawps, yowls, balks, gags, sticks, censures, criticizes, denounces, disobeys, rebels, withstands, demonstrates
    near: approves, sanctions, accepts, accedes, acquiesces, agrees, assents, adheres, complies, conforms, follows, minds, obeys, observes, advocates, champions, defends, maintains, supports, sustains, upholds, applauds, cheers, commends

Related Entry: Taking issue (phrase)

Taking issue is a different word from Issue. The synonyms below are for taking issue, not for issue.

  1. to have a different opinion

    "She took issue with the way the department was run."

    similar: differing, disagreeing, dissenting, nonconcurring
    related: clashing, colliding, conflicting, contrasting, countering, debating, objecting, opposing, protesting, resisting, contesting, disputing, arguing, bickering, falling out, quarreling
    opposite: agreeing, assenting, concurring
    near: acceding, accepting, acquiescing, complying, consenting, deferring, subscribing, affiliating, allying, associating, collaborating, colluding, coming round, compromising, cooperating, getting along, siding

  2. to present an opposing opinion or argument

    "He took issue with their explanation of what happened in his report."

    similar: demurring, excepting, expostulating, kicking, objecting, protesting, remonstrating, taking exception
    related: caviling, quibbling, challenging, daring, defying, fighting, conflicting, debating, disputing, hassling, quarreling, squabbling, wrangling, beefing, bellyaching, bitching, bleating, carping, caterwauling, complaining, crabbing, croaking, fussing, griping, grizzling, grouching, grousing, growling, grumbling, grumping, hollering, keening, maundering (chiefly British), moaning, murmuring, muttering, nagging, repining, screaming, squawking, squealing, wailing, whimpering, whinging (British), whining, yammering, yawping, yowling, balking, gagging, sticking, censuring, criticizing, denouncing, disobeying, rebelling, withstanding, demonstrating
    near: approving, sanctioning, accepting, acceding, acquiescing, agreeing, assenting, adhering, complying, conforming, following, minding, obeying, observing, advocating, championing, defending, maintaining, supporting, sustaining, upholding, applauding, cheering, commending

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Issue

The most common words with a similar meaning to Issue:

Archaic: expire
aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot, egress, exit, outlet, get, offspring, posterity, progeny, seed, spawn, matter of course, get out, print, publish, put out, cast, discharge, emanate, emit, evolve, exhale

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Issue

Words with the opposite meaning of Issue:

antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason, entrance, entranceway, entry, entryway, ingress

Related Words for Issue

ramification, denouement, echo, implication, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off, escape, escape hatch, gate, mouth, opening, passage, brood, hatch, litter, young, scion, family, kin, lineage, stock

Near Antonyms of Issue

consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring, access, entrée, ancestor, father, forebear, forebearer, forefather, grandfather, parent, primogenitor, progenitor, censor

Word Forms of Issue

Inflections: issues, issued, issuing

Derived words: issueless (adjective), issuer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Issue

Middle English, exit, proceeds, from Anglo-French, from issir to come out, go out, from Latin exire to go out, from ex- + ire to go; akin to Goth iddja he went, Greek ienai to go, Sanskrit eti he goes

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Issue

Words & Phrases Containing Issue

at issue, standard-issue, take issue, wedge issue, force the issue, make an issue of, without issue

Frequently Asked Questions about Issue

What does "Issue" mean?

"Issue" means a vital or unsettled matter. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a vital or unsettled matter. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Issue"?

Other words for "Issue" include aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary and development. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Issue" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Issue"?

There are 110 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Issue". Common alternatives include aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect and fate.

What is the opposite of "Issue"?

Antonyms of "Issue" include antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason, entrance, entranceway and entry. Near antonyms include consideration, determinant, factor and base.

How do you use "Issue" in a sentence?

Examples of "Issue" in a sentence: "one of the issues of the Civil War was a resolution to the question of states' rights"; "since the lake is the issue of the polluted river, it is becoming polluted as well"; "someone who dies without issue might have their estate turned over to the state".

Is "Issue" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Issue" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Issue" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Issue" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Issue"?

"Issue" is pronounced /ˈi-(ˌ)shü/ and divided into syllables as is·sue.