What does dilemma mean?
Word: Dilemma
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Dilemma means a situation in which you have to choose between two things, and neither choice is easy or fully good.
Synonyms: predicament
Word origin: Through Latin from Greek dilemma: di- 'twice' and lemma 'something taken for granted', so 'a double proposition'.
How do you spell dilemma?
Syllables: di - lem - ma
Tricky part: There is one l and a double m, and students often swap them to write dillema or dilema.
Watch out for: dillema, dilema, dillemma
Memory tip: Picture a fork in the road with two paths side by side, M and M: a dilemma keeps its double m for the two hard choices.
Idioms and Phrases
- on the horns of a dilemma: having to choose between two things that are equally difficult Example: "Torn between two equally good colleges, my cousin was on the horns of a dilemma for weeks."
Dilemma in a sentence
Example 1: The shopkeeper's dilemma was whether to stay open in the heavy rain or close early.
Example 2: Mum solved my dilemma by suggesting I wear the blue shirt to the wedding and save the new one for Grandma's birthday.
Example 3: Our class faced a dilemma when the vote for class monitor ended in a tie.
Fun Fact
Many adults are surprised to learn that dilemma has no n: a large number remember being taught the spelling dilemna at school, though dictionaries give only dilemma.
Practise the CREST Way
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
This word comes from Greek and means a situation in which you must make a hard choice between two things.
a) dilemma
b) enigma
c) dogma
d) drama
Show answer
a) dilemma. An enigma is a mystery, a dogma is a fixed belief and a drama is a play; only dilemma is about a hard choice.
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order:
i, e, a
a) v_t_r_n
b) m_n_t_r
c) d_l_mm_
d) c_l_nd_r
Show answer
c) d_l_mm_. i, e, a completes dilemma; veteran takes e, e, a, monitor o, i, o and calendar a, e, a.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
Priya faced a real dilemma, because her best friend's birthday party and the inter-school quizz final were on the same evning.
a) 2
b) 3
c) 0
d) 1
Show answer
a) 2. Quiz has only one z and evening keeps the e after the v, so two words are wrong; dilemma is spelt correctly.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. dilemma 2. riddle 3. hurdle a. a question with a clever or funny answer b. a problem that must be overcome c. a situation needing a hard choice
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
b) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. A hard choice is a dilemma, a puzzling question is a riddle, and an obstacle to get past is a hurdle.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Someone who is caught in a dilemma usually feels ___.
a) certain of the right answer
b) pleased with the result
c) bored with the task
d) unsure which way to choose
Show answer
d) unsure which way to choose
2. Which word is closest in meaning to dilemma?
a) delight
b) dialogue
c) diploma
d) quandary
Show answer
d) quandary
