verb
pester
PEHS-tuh
verb
1
To bother someone repeatedly or persistently.
"The kids kept pestering their dad for ice cream."
"Sales reps kept pestering her with follow-up calls."
How to Use Pester
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo keep bothering someone with repeated requests or nagging.
Common pairings
pester someone for
stop pestering
pester with questions
Word Forms
pestered past tense, pesters plural, pesters singular
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Etymology
From Old French empestrer ("to encumber"), later influenced by association with "pest," shifting its meaning toward "annoy persistently."