Meaning & use
pester constantly
Last updated
Meaning
phrasetransitive
to annoy someone by asking or bothering them again and again without stopping
Grammar: Takes an object: pester someone constantly. The adverb 'constantly' can also come before the verb: constantly pester someone.
Patterns
- pester someone constantly
- constantly pester someone
- pester someone constantly about something
My little brother pestered me constantly for a new video game.
She pestered the teacher constantly with questions until he finally explained the answer.
The reporters pestered the actor constantly as he left the hotel.
Common combinations
- pester someone constantly for something
- The children pestered their mother constantly for candy.
- pester someone constantly about something
- He pestered his boss constantly about getting a raise.
- pester someone constantly with questions
- The students pestered the guest speaker constantly with questions.
- constantly pester someone
- Stop constantly pestering your sister while she is studying.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nag
- Nag means to keep complaining or asking in an annoying way, often about chores or behavior; pester constantly is broader and can be about any repeated request.
- harass
- Harass is stronger and often suggests harmful or threatening behavior; pester constantly is milder and can be used for children or friends.
- badger
- Badger means to pester someone with lots of questions or demands; it is often used when the person will not take no for an answer.
Commonly confused: pester constantly or pester?
pester constantly vs pester
Pester alone means to annoy someone by asking repeatedly; adding 'constantly' emphasizes that it never stops.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'pester constantly' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The object 'her brother' comes right after the verb, and 'constantly' can go at the end or before the verb. Option C places 'constantly' correctly after the object. Option A puts 'constantly' before the object, which is less natural. Option B is also possible but less common, and Option D is ungrammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pester constantly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.