bother
BO-thuh
Bother (verb) means to annoy or disturb someone, or to cause them trouble. Example: “The noise from the construction site bothered the neighbors all week.”
verb
1
To annoy or disturb someone, or to cause them trouble.
"The noise from the construction site bothered the neighbors all week."
"Don't let his comments bother you — he doesn't mean anything by it."
"Sorry to bother you, but could you tell me where the station is?"
2
To take the trouble to do something, especially when it might be seen as unnecessary.
"He didn't even bother to reply to the email."
"Why bother cooking a big meal when we're only having a snack?"
"She never bothers to check the weather before leaving the house."
noun
1
A minor annoyance, fuss, or inconvenience.
"It's no bother at all to give you a lift home."
"Forgetting the umbrella was a bother, but the rain soon stopped."
"Filling in the form is a bit of a bother, but it only takes minutes."
intj
1
A mild exclamation of annoyance.
"Bother! I left my keys at the office again."
"Oh, bother! The bus has gone and the next one is an hour away."
"Bother, I've spilt tea all over my notes."
How to use bother
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo annoy someone, or to take the trouble to do something — also used as a mild swear-substitute exclamation, especially in British English.
UK vs US
"Bother!" as a stand-alone exclamation of annoyance is distinctly British and now sounds a little old-fashioned; American speakers would more likely say "darn" or "ugh."
Common pairings
can't be bothered
bother to do something
no bother
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Word forms
- Plural
- bothers
- Third person singular
- bothers
- Past tense
- bothered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The noise from the construction site _____ the neighbors all week.
Etymology
Borrowed from Scots bauther/bather, of uncertain ultimate origin, possibly related to old words for making a commotion or fuss.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for bother
See all rhymes for bother →Frequently asked questions
What does “bother” mean?
The word “bother” means to annoy or disturb someone, or to cause them trouble. In plain terms, to annoy someone, or to take the trouble to do something — also used as a mild swear-substitute exclamation, especially in British English.
How do you pronounce “bother”?
“Bother” is pronounced BO-thuh (/ˈbɑðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bother” in a sentence?
Here is “bother” used in a sentence: “The noise from the construction site bothered the neighbors all week.”
What part of speech is “bother”?
Depending on how it is used, “bother” can be a verb, a noun and an intj.
Is “bother” a common word?
“Bother” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “bother” have?
“Bother” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to annoy or disturb someone, or to cause them trouble.
What is the difference between bother and annoy?
The two overlap closely, but bother is a little softer and broader. To annoy is mainly to irritate someone. To bother can mean to irritate, but also to disturb, trouble, or inconvenience them, as in "sorry to bother you." Bother often carries a gentler, more apologetic tone than annoy.
Can "bother" be used politely?
Yes. Bother is frequently softened into courtesy, as in "I don't want to bother you" or "sorry to bother you." Here it acknowledges that you may be causing a small inconvenience, so it works as a polite way to interrupt or ask for help rather than a harsh complaint.
What does "can't be bothered" mean?
"Can't be bothered" is an informal phrase meaning you lack the will or energy to do something because it feels like too much effort. Here bother shifts to the idea of taking trouble over a task. Saying you can't be bothered to cook means you would rather not make the effort.
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