bother

bother — verb

1. to interrupt someone, get in their way, or make them feel slightly annoyed in an

1.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to interrupt someone, get in their way, or make them feel slightly annoyed in an unwanted way.

Example

Sorry to bother you during dinner, but your car lights are on.

polite apology: sorry to bother you

Buzzing flies bothered the campers through the whole breakfast.

Common collocations
  • bother somebody
  • bother somebody with a question
  • sorry to bother you
  • keep bothering somebody
  • don't bother somebody
  • be bothered by noise
Synonyms
  • annoy

    focuses more on irritation than on interruption

  • disturb

    often used for breaking sleep, peace, or concentration

  • interrupt

    narrower; especially about cutting into speech or activity

  • bug

    informal; usually repeated annoying behavior

Antonyms
  • leave alone

    to stop interrupting or annoying someone

  • spare

    to avoid causing trouble to someone

Grammar Patterns

bother somebody

bother somebody with something

sorry to bother you

be bothered by something

Usage Note

Common in polite requests and apologies: `Sorry to bother you ...` Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about interruption or irritation from a person, noise, or situation, not deep worry.

Common Mistakes

Don't bother to me while I'm driving.
Don't bother me while I'm driving.
the person affected comes directly after the verb.
Sorry to disturb you a question.
Sorry to bother you with a question.
use `bother + person + with + thing` when asking for someone's time.

2. to do something that needs extra time or energy, especially when you might decid

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to do something that needs extra time or energy, especially when you might decide it is not worth it.

Example

Noa bothered to check the train times before leaving home.

bother to + infinitive

Few guests bothered to reply to Hana's birthday message.

Common collocations
  • bother to ask
  • bother to check
  • bother to reply
  • don't bother
  • why bother?
  • bother doing something
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • ignore

    to give no attention to something

  • skip

    to leave the action undone

Grammar Patterns

bother to do something

bother doing something

don't bother to do something

Usage Note

Very common in negatives and questions, especially with `to + infinitive`: `don't bother to call`, `did you bother to ask?` In informal speech, `bother doing` also appears, usually when the speaker suggests the action was not worth the effort.

Common Mistakes

I didn't bother do the form.
I didn't bother to do the form.
this pattern normally uses `to + infinitive`.
She bothered for calling me.
She bothered to call me.
do not put `for` before the verb.

3. to leave someone worried, sad, or uneasy because something seems wrong, unsafe,

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to leave someone worried, sad, or uneasy because something seems wrong, unsafe, or upsetting.

Example

The dark mark on Mei's arm bothered her for weeks.

health sign as subject

It bothered Dr. Okafor that the child stopped eating lunch.

it bothers somebody that ...

Common collocations
  • bother somebody deeply
  • still bother somebody
  • it bothers somebody that ...
  • a question bothers somebody
  • something has been bothering somebody
Synonyms
  • worry

    the closest everyday choice when something stays on your mind

  • concern

    slightly more formal and often less emotional

  • trouble

    suggests something keeps returning to your thoughts

  • unsettle

    focuses on making someone feel less calm or secure

Antonyms
  • reassure

    to make someone feel less worried

  • calm

    to reduce fear or nervous feelings

Grammar Patterns

something bothers somebody

it bothers somebody that ...

something is bothering somebody

Usage Note

The subject is often a fact, memory, health sign, or unanswered question rather than a person. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about inner worry or unease, not a small interruption.

Common Mistakes

I bother about my son.
I am bothered about my son.' / 'I worry about my son.
this sense usually makes the cause the subject, not the worried person.
It was bothered me that he left.
It bothered me that he left.
use `bother` directly as the verb after `it`.
Idioms

be bothered (about somebody/something)

idiom

to care about something, or to think it matters enough to affect your choice or feelings.

Imani isn't bothered about missing the early train.

'Tea or coffee?' 'I'm not bothered,' said Sven.

can't be bothered (to do something)

idiom

to feel too unwilling, tired, or lazy to spend energy on doing something.

Greta couldn't be bothered to iron the shirt before work.

By Sunday evening, we couldn't be bothered cooking anything.

(all) hot and bothered

idiom

upset, worried, or rushed in a way that makes it hard to stay calm.

After three missed calls, Dad came home hot and bothered.

Nadia looked all hot and bothered before the school play.

can’t be bothered (to do something)

idiom

You feel too lazy or unwilling to make the effort to do something.

Sara can't be bothered to walk to the store today.

Why can't you be bothered to finish your homework on time?

bother — noun

bother — exclamation

Word family

  • bothered
    adjectiveB1
  • bothersome
    adjectiveC1
  • unbothered
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

`Bother` is a flexible everyday verb. In `verb/1`, it can describe a polite interruption (`Sorry to bother you`) or a small irritation (`The flies bothered me`). `Annoy` stays closer to irritation and is less often used for polite requests. `Disturb` often suggests breaking someone's rest, concentration, or privacy, so it fits sleeping, studying, or quiet time. `Interrupt` is narrower: it means cutting into what someone is saying or doing, not general irritation. `Bug` is informal and usually suggests repeated annoying behavior from a person. Compare: `Sorry to bother you with one question`, `The noise disturbed the baby`, and `My brother kept bugging me for the keys.`

bother ↗annoy ↗disturb ↗interrupt ↗bug ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • bother to + verb
  • bother doing something
  • sorry to bother you
  • don't bother
  • why bother?

Prepositions

  • bother about
  • bother with
  • be bothered by

Etymology

The history of `bother` is uncertain. It entered everyday English fairly late, and dictionaries do not agree on one clear earlier source. For learners, the important point is that it is a modern common word with an unclear older background, not one that links neatly to a familiar Latin or French root.