troubleshoot

Or trou·ble-shoot

[truhb-uhl-shoot]

verb (used without object)

troubleshooted, troubleshot, troubleshooting. 

1. to act or be employed as an expert in discovering and eliminating problems or malfunctions in software, mechanical equipment, etc..

   She troubleshoots for a large industrial firm.

verb (used with object)

troubleshooted, troubleshot, troubleshooting. 

1. to discover and eliminate problems or malfunctions in (software, mechanical equipment, etc.).

   When using web conferencing platforms, it's important to troubleshoot your tech before joining the call.

2. to discover and eliminate (problems or malfunctions in software, mechanical equipment, etc).

   I had to troubleshoot an error that was freezing me out of the program.

Word History and Origins

Origin of troubleshoot¹

First recorded in 1930–35; back formation from troubleshooter

Example Sentences

She’s used it to learn about “different sleep training strategies, troubleshoot sleep, and behavior issues.”

From Salon

The group posted two images, which showed apparent internal instructions for troubleshooting a car charging issue and internal computer logs.

From BBC

But two images posted by the group show apparent internal instructions for troubleshooting a car charging issue and internal computer logs.

From BBC

And in more relevant terms, Slot 2.0 is still at the troubleshooting stage - there are 38 product launches to come.

From BBC

At one call center in the Philippines, workers help Americans with diabetes or neurological conditions troubleshoot devices that monitor their health.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• balance 
• correct 
• fine-tune 
• fix 
• improve 
• overhaul 
• readjust 
• regulate 
• tighten 

When To Use

What does troubleshoot mean?

To troubleshoot is to resolve a dispute, fix a problem, or eliminate something that causes trouble, as in Before throwing away your toaster, why not troubleshoot it to find the problem?To troubleshoot is also to act or work as a troubleshooter, as in Naomi was promoted to troubleshoot the IT department’s toughest issues. A troubleshooter is often a person with good problem-solving skills and a deep knowledge about the thing they’re troubleshooting. Both troubleshooted and troubleshot are acceptable past tense versions of the verb troubleshoot. Because shooted is not the past tense of shoot, you may hear troubleshot more often.Example: I tried to troubleshoot the app myself, but it just isn’t working right.