English
bother
Pronunciation
  • enPR: bŏʹ-thər, IPA: /ˈbɒðəɹ/
  • (AU) IPA: [ˈbɔðə(ɹ)]
  • (British) IPA: [ˈbɒðə(ɹ)]
  • (America) IPA: [ˈbɑðɚ]
Verb

bother (bothers, present participle bothering; past and past participle bothered)

  1. (transitive) To annoy, to disturb, to irritate.
    Would it bother you if I smoked?
  2. (intransitive) To feel care or anxiety; to make or take trouble; to be troublesome.
    Why do I even bother to try?
    • 1877, Henry James, The American (novel)
      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.
  3. (intransitive) To do something which is of negligible inconvenience.
    You didn't even bother to close the door.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Noun

bother

  1. Fuss, ado.
    There was a bit of bother at the hairdresser's when they couldn't find my appointment in the book.
  2. Trouble, inconvenience.
    Yes, I can do that for you - it's no bother.
Synonyms Translations Translations Interjection
  1. A mild expression of annoyance.
    • 1926, A A Milne, Winnie the Pooh, Methuen & Co., Ltd., Chapter 2 ...in which Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place:
      "Oh, help!" said Pooh. "I'd better go back."
      "Oh, bother!" said Pooh. "I shall have to go on."
      "I can't do either!" said Pooh. "Oh, help and bother!"
Synonyms Translations Related terms

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