bother Hear it!

bother Definition

bother (bät̸h′ər)

transitive verb

  1. to worry or trouble, esp. with petty annoyances; harass, pester, etc.
  2. to bewilder or fluster
  3. to cause discomfort to her sore foot bothers her
  4. to disturb; interrupt

Etymology: earlier bodder (in Jonathan Swift); prob. Anglo-Ir for pother

intransitive verb

  1. to take the time and trouble; concern oneself don't bother to reply
  2. to make a fuss

noun

  1. a cause or condition of worry or irritation; trouble; fuss
  2. a person who gives trouble

used to express slight annoyance, worry, etc.

bother Synonyms

bother

n.

  1. Trouble or worry

    vexation, fuss, inconvenience, anxiety; see care 2.

  2. A cause of trouble or worry

    nuisance, problem, concern, care; see difficulty 1, 2, trouble 2.

bother Synonyms

bother

v.

  1. To take trouble

    put oneself out, fret, go out of one's way, make a fuss about, fuss (over), take pains, make an effort, exert oneself, trouble oneself, concern oneself, be concerned about, worry about; see also try 1, worry 2.

  2. To give trouble

    annoy, plague, vex, pester, molest, irritate, irk, disturb, provoke, harass, badger, hound, heckle, aggravate, tease, goad, pursue, torment, torture, taunt, try one's patience, carp at, nag, hector, harry, exasperate, nettle, cross, exacerbate, intrude upon, interrupt, discommode, inconvenience, hinder, impede, bore, afflict, grate on, bedevil, beset, browbeat, tantalize, bug*, peeve*, get on one's nerves*, give one a pain*, drive one nuts*, drive up a wall*, put out*, gripe*, get one's goat*, put one's nose out of joint*, get under one's skin*, ride*, pick on*, needle*, get in one's hair*, hassle*, get on one's back*, noodge*, give one a hard time*, get on one's case*; see also disturb 2.

    Antonyms help, please, delight.

  3. To be disturbing

    disturb, distress, upset, hurt, trouble, be the matter, displease, disconcert, worry, agitate, disquiet, perturb, discompose, embarrass, unsettle, discomfit, pain, grieve, bewilder, confuse, perplex, ruffle, mortify, chagrin, gnaw at, jar, make one lose sleep, discombobulate*, rub the wrong way*, go against the grain*, jangle the nerves*; see also sense 2.

bother implies disturbance of one's peace of mind and may suggest mild perplexity or anxiety; annoy implies temporary disturbance of mind caused by something that displeases one or tries one's patience; vex implies a more serious source of irritation and greater disturbance, often intense worry; irk stresses a wearing down of one's patience by persistent annoyance; to tease is to annoy by persistent, irritating actions, remarks, or requests; plague suggests mental torment comparable to the physical suffering caused by an affliction

bother Usage Examples

Object

  • nobody: In 1977, so few families were educating their children at home that nobody bothered to count them.
  • neighbor: Your dog won't bother the neighbors by his barking if you bring him inside.
  • voting: Mr McConnell has only one fear remaining - that his supporters will decide not to bother voting in the belief that victory is assured.
  • checking: You might argue that write(2 ) is unlikely to fail, so why even bother checking?
  • anybody: This doesn't bother anybody else, does it.
  • anyone: JOHN KERRY VS DR. HILL Has anyone bothered to check Kerry's pulse?

Preposition: with

anything: More or Posted: Thu 4th May 06 01:10 I can't be bothered with anything these days, but such is life.

Infinitive complement

  • vote: Firstly, people don't bother to vote in the first place.
  • read: Alternatively the eminence couldn't be bothered to read, or comment upon my feedback!
  • listen: I never could bother to listen to a whole album, and most of the last three have been crocks of shite.
  • reply: Seeing the funny side of it, Doug didn't bother to reply.
  • tell: Why the bloody hell would I bother to tell you anything?
  • turn: In Parliament he rarely bothers to turn up to listen or vote.

Present participle complement

  • try: So bad but I am not even going to bother trying to get into the shower tonight!
  • downloading: And a blind person won't bother downloading these photographs!
  • ask: I can't be bothered asking him to stop.
  • respond: If you don't have any valid arguments of substance, please don't bother responding to my postings.
  • read: I've come over all hot and bothered reading your experience.
  • reply: I didn't bother replying to the last mail.

Modifying Another Word

even: Why did I even bother going out with him?

Browse dictionary entries near bother

  1. ‹ Botham, IanTerence
  2. ‹ Botha, P(ieter) W(illem)
  3. ‹ Botha, P
  4. ‹ Botha
  5. ‹ both
  6. ‹ botfly
  7. ‹ botch
  8. ‹ Botany wool
  9. ‹ Botany Bay
  10. ‹ botany
  1. botheration ›
  2. bothered ›
  3. bothersome ›
  4. Bothnia ›
  5. bothy ›
  6. Botox ›
  7. botryoidal ›
  8. botryomycosis ›
  9. botrytis ›
  10. bots ›