bother

interjectionBritishold-fashioned

UK /ˈbɒðə(r)/

1
used when you are annoyed about something
Synonyms and related words
Old-fashioned expressions used when annoyed or angry
gosh
crikey
blow (it)

View the pronunciation for bother.

bother

noun

UK /ˈbɒðə(r)/

1
uncountable trouble or difficulty caused by doing something when this is annoying but not very serious
It will be an awful lot of bother going by bus.
the bother of doing something:
I didn’t want the bother of carrying a camera around.
save someone the bother:
I’ll get a taxi and save you the bother of taking me.
Synonyms and related words
Small and minor problems
hitch
triviality
bother
2
singular something or someone that causes trouble or annoys you
I hope George wasn’t too much of a bother.
Synonyms and related words
Something that is annoying
annoyance
irritation
irritant
Synonyms and related words
People who cause trouble or problems
troublemaker
nuisance
trial

phrases

it’s no bother

no bother

a spot of bother

bother

nounmainly British

US /ˈbɑðər/

1
uncountable trouble or difficulty caused by doing something when this is annoying but not very serious
It will be an awful lot of bother going by bus.
Synonyms and related words
Small and minor problems
hitch
triviality
bother
2
singular something or someone that causes trouble or annoys you
Synonyms and related words
Something that is annoying
joke
pest
irritation
Synonyms and related words
People who cause trouble or problems
troublemaker
nuisance
trial

phrases

it’s no bother

bother

verb

UK /ˈbɒðə(r)/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	bother
he/she/it	bothers
present participle	bothering
past tense	bothered
past participle	bothered

1
intransitive usually in negatives or questionsif you do not bother to do something, you do not do it, either because there seems to be no good reason or because it involves too much effort
bother to do something:
It was such a stupid question, I didn’t even bother to reply.
Has anyone ever bothered to ask the students for their opinion?
bother about:
Don’t bother about driving me home, I’ll walk.
bother with:
Why bother with a car when you have such good public transport here?
bother doing something:
He won’t come, so why bother inviting him?
Synonyms and related words
To not act, or to not do something
bother
abstain
neglect
2
transitive to annoy someone by interrupting them when they are busy or want to be left alone
I called your office because I didn’t want to bother you at home.
Are the children bothering you?
Doesn’t the noise bother you when you’re trying to sleep?
Synonyms and related words
To make someone angry or annoyed
annoy
provoke
anger
3
transitive to make someone feel worried or upset
There was something about him that really bothered her.
it bothers someone that/when:
Does it bother you that people think you’re older than him?
Synonyms and related words
To make someone feel sad or upset
upset
wound
disturb
Synonyms and related words
To make someone worried or nervous
worry
concern
tear apart
1. 3a
  to frighten someone, for example by following them around or trying to talk to them
  If he keeps bothering you, you should call the police.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make someone afraid or frightened
  frighten
  alarm
  scare
2. 3b
  to cause someone physical pain
  I could see that his knee was bothering him.
  Synonyms and related words
  To feel or cause physical pain and suffering
  suffer
  hurt
  ache

phrases

someone can’t be bothered

don’t bother

I’m not bothered

sorry to bother you

bother

verb

US /ˈbɑðər/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	bother
he/she/it	bothers
present participle	bothering
past tense	bothered
past participle	bothered

1
intransitive usually in negatives or questionsif you do not bother to do something, you do not do it, either because there seems to be no good reason or because it involves too much effort
bother to do something:
It was such a stupid question, I didn’t even bother to reply.
Has anyone ever bothered to ask the students for their opinion?
bother with:
Why bother with the expense of a babysitter if Carla will do it for free?
bother doing something:
He won’t come, so don’t bother inviting him.
Synonyms and related words
To not act, or to not do something
bother
abstain
neglect
2
transitive to annoy someone by interrupting them when they are busy or want to be left alone
I called your office because I didn’t want to bother you at home.
Are the children bothering you?
Doesn’t the noise bother you when you’re trying to sleep?
Synonyms and related words
To make someone angry or annoyed
annoy
provoke
anger
3
transitive to make someone feel worried or upset
There was something about him that really bothered her.
it bothers someone that/when:
Does it bother you that people think you’re older than him?
Synonyms and related words
To make someone feel sad or upset
upset
wound
disturb
Synonyms and related words
To make someone worried or nervous
worry
concern
tear apart
1. 3a
  to frighten someone, for example by following them around or trying to talk to them
  If he keeps bothering you, you should call the police.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make someone afraid or frightened
  frighten
  alarm
  scare
2. 3b
  to cause someone physical pain
  I could see that his knee was bothering him.
  Synonyms and related words
  To feel or cause physical pain and suffering
  suffer
  hurt
  ache

phrases

someone can’t be bothered

don’t bother

I’m not bothered

sorry to bother you

bother

bother

bother

bother ​‌‌‌

bother ​‌‌

bother

bother