Trivia Time

Which 19th-century literary work was issued in monthly installments by its publisher?

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issue

American  

[ish-oo, is-yoo] / ˈɪʃ u, ˈɪs ju /

noun

• issues
  plural

1. the act of sending out or putting forth; promulgation; distribution.

   the issue of food and blankets to flood victims.

2. something that is printed or published and distributed, especially a given number of a periodical.

   Have you seen the latest issue of the magazine?

   Synonyms:

   printing, edition

3. something that is sent out or put forth in any form.

4. a quantity of something that is officially offered for sale or put into circulation at one time.

   a new issue of commemorative stamps;

   a new bond issue.

5. a point in question or a matter that is in dispute, as between contending parties in an action at law.

   Synonyms:

   crux

6. a point, matter, or dispute, the decision of which is of special or public importance.

   the political issues.

   Synonyms:

   question, problem

7. a point, the decision of which determines a matter.

   The real issue in the strike was the right to bargain collectively.

   Synonyms:

   question, problem, crux

8. a point at which a matter is ready for decision.

   to bring a case to an issue.

9. something proceeding from any source, as a product, effect, result, or consequence.

   His words were the issue of an intelligent man.

10. Often issues

    1. a personal or emotional problem.

       I had issues that prevented me from doing well in school.

    2. any problem or difficulty.

       Sorry I'm late—I had an issue with parking.

11. the ultimate result, event, or outcome of a proceeding, affair, etc..

    the issue of a contest.

    Synonyms:

    end, conclusion, upshot

12. a distribution of food rations, clothing, equipment, or ammunition to a number of officers or enlisted soldiers, or to a military unit.

13. offspring; progeny.

    to die without issue.

14. a going, coming, passing, or flowing out.

    free issue and entry.

15. a place or means of egress; outlet or exit.

16. something that comes out, as an outflowing stream.

17. Pathology.

    1. a discharge of blood, pus, or the like.

    2. an incision, ulcer, or the like, emitting such a discharge.

18. English Law. issues, the profits from land or other property.

19. the printing of copies of a work from the original setting of type with some slight changes.

    the third issue of the poem.

20. Obsolete. a proceeding or action.

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verb (used with object)

• issues,
  present (3rd person singular)
• issued,
  past participle,  past
• issuing
  present participle

1. to put out; deliver for use, sale, etc.; put into circulation.

2. to mint, print, or publish for sale or distribution.

   to issue a new coin;

   to issue a reprint of a book.

3. to give or grant officially to a particular person or group.

   The United States is the first country to issue a patent for an animal developed using biological techniques.

4. to distribute (food, clothing, equipment, etc.) to members of the military, employees, students, etc.

5. to send out; discharge; emit.

verb (used without object)

• issues,
  present (3rd person singular)
• issued,
  past participle,  past
• issuing
  present participle

1. to go, pass, or flow out; come forth; emerge.

   to issue forth to battle.

   Antonyms:

   return

2. to be sent, put forth, or distributed authoritatively or publicly, as a legal writ or money.

3. to be published, as a book.

4. to originate or proceed from any source.

   Synonyms:

   spring, arise, emanate, flow

5. to arise as a result or consequence; result.

   a reaction that issues from the stimulus.

   Synonyms:

   ensue

6. Chiefly Law. to proceed as offspring, or be born or descended.

7. Chiefly Law. to come as a yield or profit, as from land.

8. Archaic. to have the specified outcome, result, etc. (often followed byin ).

9. Obsolete. to end; terminate.

idioms

1. at issue,

   1. being disputed or under discussion.

   2. being at opposite viewpoints; in disagreement.

      Medical experts are still at issue over the proper use of tranquilizers.

2. join issue,

   1. to enter into controversy or take exception to.

   2. to submit an issue jointly for legal decision.

3. take issue, to disagree; dispute.

   He took issue with me on my proposal for a new advertising campaign.

issue British  

/ ˈɪʃuː, ˈɪsjuː /

noun

1. the act of sending or giving out something; supply; delivery

2. something issued; an edition of stamps, a magazine, etc

3. the number of identical items, such as banknotes or shares in a company, that become available at a particular time

4. the act of emerging; outflow; discharge

5. something flowing out, such as a river

6. a place of outflow; outlet

7. the descendants of a person; offspring; progeny

8. a topic of interest or discussion

9. an important subject requiring a decision

10. an outcome or consequence; result

11. pathol

    1. a suppurating sore

    2. discharge from a wound

12. law the matter remaining in dispute between the parties to an action after the pleadings

13. the yield from or profits arising out of land or other property

14. military the allocation of items of government stores, such as food, clothing, and ammunition

15. library science

    1. the system for recording current loans

    2. the number of books loaned in a specified period

16. obsolete an act, deed, or proceeding

17. 1. under discussion

    2. in disagreement

18. to compel decision on some matter

19. 1. to join in controversy

    2. to submit an issue for adjudication

20. to disagree

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verb

1. to come forth or emerge or cause to come forth or emerge

2. to publish or deliver (a newspaper, magazine, etc)

3. (tr) to make known or announce

4. (intr) to originate or proceed

5. (intr) to be a consequence; result

6. to end or terminate

7. (tr)

   1. to give out or allocate (equipment, a certificate, etc) officially to someone

   2. (foll by with) to supply officially (with)

issue More Idioms  

1. see at issue; take issue with.

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Usage

What are other ways to say issue? To issue is to go, pass, or flow out. How is issue different from emanate and emerge? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• issuer
  noun
• preissue
  noun
• underissue
  noun
• outissue
  verb (used with object)
• issueless
  adjective
• self-issuing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• issues
  plural

Participles

• issuing
  present
• issued
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• issue
  simple
• issues
  simple
• have issued
  perfect
• has issued
  perfect
• am issuing
  progressive
• are issuing
  progressive
• is issuing
  progressive
• have been issuing
  perfect progressive
• has been issuing
  perfect progressive

Past

• issued
  simple
• had issued
  perfect
• was issuing
  progressive
• were issuing
  progressive
• had been issuing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will issue
  simple
• will have issued
  perfect
• will be issuing
  progressive
• will have been issuing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of issue

First recorded in 1275–1325; from Middle English, from Middle French: “place or passage out”; from Old French (e)issue, from unattested Vulgar Latin exūta, noun use of feminine of unattested exūtus, Latin exitus “act or means of going out,” for the noun senses; from Middle English issuen, derivative of the noun, or from Middle French, Old French (e)issu, past participle of issir “to go out” (ultimately derived from Latin exīre ) for the verb senses; see exit ¹

Explanation

One copy of "Celebrities are Cool" magazine is an issue. It is issued, or put out, by the publisher. You and your mother may argue over the issue, or topic, of whether or not you should read it. The original meaning of the word issue was to put something out. If a celebrity issues a statement or the post office issues new stamps, they put them out for the public. Likewise, an issue is a current topic, sometimes controversial, that is being discussed. Politicians often say they want to talk about the issues (and not their personal lives!). You might hear someone say, "He's got issues" about a person who has some problems, usually emotional ones, but this is a very new use for the word.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

issue issues issued issuing

“Without collaboration and transparency, management of this complex issue will continue to falter, and worse, our unhoused neighbors will continue to suffer,” the statement said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

Olsen said the security clearance issue wasn’t a factor in his departure but declined to elaborate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

A comprehensive review by Yi Ru and colleagues examines this issue in detail, looking at how a wide range of immune cells behave throughout the wound healing process.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

Winger Christos Tzolis, who has shone at times this season following his summer arrival, suffered a hamstring issue with Greece and, with Eberechi Eze out of form, Arteta used Noni Madueke on the left wing.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Now that Jefferson had raised the issue of political betrayal, he would have to “excuse the freedom of this discussion...which has taken off the Shackles I should otherwise found myself embarrassed with.”

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Relegated from Ligue 1 in 2022 before administration meant they tumbled into the fourth tier, this summer they were again demoted to the regional sixth tier because of financial issues.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Kate King covers retail and hotel real estate for The Wall Street Journal, writing frequently about the evolution of in-person and online shopping, the changing mall landscape and issues affecting lodging.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Newport Beach was one of several coastal communities to see flooding Friday as residents braced for Tropical Storm Rachel, which is expected to cause more issues over the weekend.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

Josh MacAlister, the minister for children and families - who is responsible for adoption and children's social care in England - told the BBC that medical records was one of the issues being looked at.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

His early mistakes finally behind him, Kennedy looked forward to winning reelection and taking on big issues at home and around the world.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

It’s only the second time a tropical storm watch has been issued in California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

Italian police say the actual arrest warrant was only issued on 18 August after he had travelled south and left Poland, suggesting the Germans were not sure their neighbours would co-operate and detain him.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

The weather service issued the tropical storm watch Friday for most of San Diego County.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

The palace issued a rebuttal to the book: “The pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory in ways others do not recognize, even many years after such a loss.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

They were issued a new plane, and as soon as Aleksandr’s shoulder was in working order, they were back in the sky.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

On Thursday, the police said they had begun issuing letters inviting people "reasonably suspected" of committing offences linked to the protests to interview.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Other countries including the U.S. and U.K. have also shifted to issuing more shorter-term debt in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Anthony Head's lasting legacy continues to be honoured months after his death, with a major TV show issuing a fresh tribute to the acclaimed actor.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

The California treasurer is the state’s chief financial manager and responsible for overseeing public investments and issuing bonds to fund major projects like roads, sewers, schools and affordable housing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

In July 1969, a hundred or so black women crowded into a room, their attention commanded by the sounds and grainy images issuing forth from a small black-and-white television.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• affair
• argument
• concern
• controversy
• matter
• point
• problem
• question
• subject
• topic