Meaning & use
bother
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitive
To make the effort to do something, especially when it is inconvenient or unnecessary.
Grammar: Often used in questions or negative sentences: 'Don't bother.' It can be followed by 'to' + infinitive or 'with' + noun.
Patterns
- bother to do something
- bother with something
- don't bother
Don't bother to call me; I'll be home all evening.
She didn't bother with breakfast because she was late.
Why bother going all the way to the city when you can order online?
verbtransitive
To cause someone slight worry, annoyance, or discomfort.
Grammar: Takes an object: 'The noise bothers me.' Often used in the passive: 'I was bothered by the delay.'
Patterns
- bother someone
- be bothered by something
The constant noise from the construction site really bothers my father.
He was bothered by a persistent cough for weeks.
Does it bother you if I open the window?
nouncountable or uncountable
A person or thing that causes trouble or annoyance.
Grammar: Usually singular in the phrase 'a bother'. Can be uncountable in British English: 'It's no bother.'
Patterns
- a bother
- no bother
- such a bother
Filling out all these forms is such a bother.
I don't want to be a bother, but could you help me with this?
Word forms
| third person singular | bothers |
|---|---|
| past tense | bothered |
| past participle | bothered |
| -ing form | bothering |
Common combinations
- can't be bothered
- I can't be bothered to cook tonight; let's order pizza.
- sorry to bother you
- Sorry to bother you, but do you have a minute?
- no bother
- It's no bother at all; I was passing by anyway.
- bother someone about something
- Stop bothering your sister about her homework.
- hot and bothered
- He got all hot and bothered when he couldn't find his keys.
Synonyms and how they differ
- annoy
- Stronger and more direct than 'bother'; it suggests making someone feel slightly angry.
- trouble
- More formal and often used in the phrase 'trouble someone for something'.
- worry
- Focuses on causing anxiety rather than mild annoyance.
Opposites
Word family
- bothersome adjective
- Causing annoyance or trouble.
- botheration noun
- Old-fashioned exclamation of annoyance.
Commonly confused: bother or bother?
bother vs bother
Not to be confused with 'brother', which means a male sibling.
Practice
Complete the sentence: 'I didn't ___ to lock the door because I was only going out for a minute.'
Choose one answer.
After 'didn't', the base form 'bother' is correct. 'Bothering' and 'bothered' are not used after 'didn't' in this structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bother”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.