bother

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈbɒðə/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /'bɑðɚ/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form bother

Third-person singular bothers

Past tense bothered

Past participle bothered

Present participle bothering

1. (transitive & intransitive) If you bother to do something, you make an effort to do it.

   Don't bother with the dishes. I'll do them later.

   I didn't bother to clean up after he was finished.

   Did you bother going to the hospital to meet her?

   Sometimes wonder why I even bother.

   Nobody even bothered to ask how I was feeling.

2. (transitive) If something bothers someone, it disturbs or worries them.

   Would it bother you if I smoked?

   My tooth has been bothering me lately.

   It bothered me that she had no answers.

   The water out here is peaceful, and there's nobody to bother you.

   Go back to sleep, Howie. I'm sorry I bothered you.

Synonyms

• try
• worry
• upset
• interrupt

Related words

• bothersome

Noun

Singular bother

Plural bothers

1. (uncountable) A small trouble or problem.

   I can do it – no bother.

   It's not worth the bother. Just leave it there.

2. (countable) A bother is somebody or something that makes trouble for you.

   I don't want to be a bother, so I'll just go out by myself.

   It's such a bother, I don't think I'll go.

Synonyms

• problem
• trouble
• difficulty
• worry

Interjection

Interjection bother

1. You say bother when you are annoyed.

   Oh, bother! Now I'll have to make it again.

Synonyms

• damn
• shit