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bother

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈbɑːðɚ/ · UK /ˈbɒðə/

Forms: bothers, bothering, bothered

bother means: To make the effort to do something, especially when you might choose not to.

verb

MAKE EFFORTB1

To make the effort to do something, especially when you might choose not to.

  • Do not bother to wait.
  • She never bothers checking her email.
  • Why did you bother with all that paperwork?

How to use it: bother to do something (He did not bother to read the instructions.); bother doing something (Why bother cooking when we can order food?); bother with something (Do not bother with the dishes tonight.)

Similar words: make an effort, take the trouble

Common phrases: bother to ask, bother with something, not bother, bother to reply

WORRY OR ANNOYA2

To make someone feel worried or annoyed.

  • The noise bothers me.
  • Her headache bothered her all day.
  • Does it bother you when people arrive late?

Similar words: annoy, trouble, disturb, worry

Common phrases: bother someone, bother me

CURSEC2

To express anger at someone or something by wishing bad things on them.

  • Bother this rain!
  • Bother the man who locked the door!
  • Bother it, I have lost my key again.

Similar words: curse

Common phrases: bother it, bother the weather, bother that noise

noun

TROUBLEB1

Extra work or difficulty that makes something less easy.

  • It was no bother.
  • Ordering online saved us a lot of bother.
  • Can you carry it without much bother?

Similar words: trouble, inconvenience, hassle

Common phrases: no bother, without any bother, save someone bother

ANNOYING PERSONB2

A person or thing that causes trouble or annoyance.

  • I hope I am not a bother.
  • That loose window is a real bother.
  • The children became a bother during the meeting.

Similar words: nuisance, annoyance, pest

Common phrases: be a bother, a real bother, such a bother

FUSSB2

Excited or annoyed activity and argument about something.

  • There was a bit of bother over the bill.
  • She made a great bother about the seating arrangements.
  • All this bother started with a missing ticket.

Similar words: fuss, ado, commotion

Common phrases: make a bother, a bit of bother, all this bother

interjection

ANNOYANCEB1

Used when something goes wrong and you feel annoyed.

  • Bother! I forgot my bag.
  • Oh, bother! The bus has already left.
  • Bother! Now we have to start again.

Similar words: drat

Common phrases: oh bother, bother it

Questions about bother

What does bother mean?

To make the effort to do something, especially when you might choose not to.

What is bother in other languages?

Türkçe: zahmet etmek · Español: molestarse · Français: se donner la peine · Deutsch: sich bemühen · Italiano: prendersi la briga · 日本語: わざわざする

How do you pronounce bother?

In American English /ˈbɑːðɚ/; in British English /ˈbɒðə/.

How do you use bother in a sentence?

Do not bother to wait. She never bothers checking her email.

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