verb
annoy
uh-NOIH
verb
1
To bother or irritate someone, especially through repeated small actions.
"The dripping tap annoyed him all night."
"She annoys her brother by humming the same tune over and over."
How to Use Annoy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo irritate or bother someone, usually through small, repeated things rather than one big offense.
Common pairings
annoy someone
annoying habit
easily annoyed
Word Forms
annoyed past tense, annoys plural, annoys singular
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The dripping tap _____ him all night.
Etymology
From Old French anoier ("to bother, disturb"), from Late Latin inodiare ("to make loathsome"), rooted in Latin odium, "hatred."