Bother

/ˈbɔðə(ɹ)/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To annoy, to disturb, to irritate; to be troublesome to, to make trouble for..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To annoy, to disturb, to irritate; to be troublesome to, to make trouble for.
2. (intransitive or reflexive) To feel care or concern; to burden or inconvenience oneself out of concern.
3. (intransitive, catenative) To take the trouble, to trouble oneself (to do something).
4. Fuss, ado.
5. Trouble, inconvenience.
6. (dated, euphemistic) A mild expression of annoyance.

Example Sentences

Would it bother you if I smoked?

I never bother about such trivialities.

I wouldn't bother with an umbrella if I were you.

To expand, without bothering about it—without shiftless timidity on one side, or loquacious eagerness on the other—to the full compass of what he would have called a "pleasant" experience, was Newman's most definite programme of life.

Why do I even bother to try?

There was a bit of bother at the hairdresser's when they couldn't find my appointment in the book.

It was a 15-minute return trip to walk back home to pick up my device, but I weighed it up and decided that it wasn’t worth the bother.

Yes, I can do that for you—it’s no bother.

Synonyms for bother

Antonyms for bother

Related Words

Word Forms

• bothers
• bothering
• bothered
• bother!

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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