Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense bothers, present participle bothering, past tense, past participle bothered
1. verb
If you do not botherto do something or if you do not botherwith it, you do not do it, consider it, or use it because you think it is unnecessary or because you are too lazy.
Lots of people don't bother to go through a marriage ceremony these days. [VERB to-infinitive]
Most of the papers didn't even bother reporting it. [VERB verb-ing]
Nothing I do makes any difference anyway, so why bother? [VERB]
...and he does not bother with a helmet either. [V + with/about]
Synonyms: concern yourself, take the time, make the effort, go to the trouble More Synonyms of bother
2. uncountable noun [oft aNOUN]
Bother means trouble or difficulty. You can also use bother to refer to an activity which causes this, especially when you would prefer not to do it or get involved with it.
I usually buy sliced bread–it's less bother.
The courts take too long and going to the police is a bother.
Most men hate the bother of shaving.
Synonyms: trouble, problem, worry, difficulty More Synonyms of bother
3. uncountable noun
You use bother to refer to serious trouble, usually when you want to make it sound less serious than it really is.
[British, informal, vagueness]
Vince is having a spot of bother with the law.
4. verb
If something bothers you, or if you bother about it, it worries, annoys, or upsets you.
Is something bothering you? [VERB noun]
That kind of jealousy doesn't bother me. [VERB noun]
It bothered me that boys weren't interested in me. [VERB noun that]
Never bother about people's opinions. [VERB + about]
[Also V n wh]
Synonyms: trouble, concern, worry, upset More Synonyms of bother
botheredadjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
I was bothered about the blister on my hand. [+ about]
I'm not bothered if he has another child.
5. verb
If someone bothers you, they talk to you when you want to be left alone or interrupt you when you are busy.
We are playing a trick on a man who keeps bothering me. [VERB noun]
I don't know why he bothers me with this kind of rubbish. [V n + with/about]
Synonyms: pester, plague, irritate, put out More Synonyms of bother
6.
See bother/bother it
7.
See can't be bothered
8.
See it's no bother
9. hot and bothered
bother in British English
(ˈbɒðə)
verb
1. (transitive)
to give annoyance, pain, or trouble to; irritate
his bad leg is bothering him again
2. (transitive)
to trouble (a person) by repeatedly disturbing; pester
stop bothering your father!
3. (intransitive)
to take the time or trouble; concern oneself
don't bother to come with me
4. (transitive)
to make (a person) alarmed or confused
the thought of her husband's return clearly bothered her
noun
5.
a state of worry, trouble, or confusion
6.
a person or thing that causes fuss, trouble, or annoyance
7. informal
a disturbance or fight; trouble (esp in the phrase a spot of bother)
exclamation
8. mainly British
an exclamation of slight annoyance
Word origin
C18: perhaps from Irish Gaelic bodhar deaf, vexed; compare Irish Gaelic buairim I vex
bother in American English
(ˈbɑðər)
verb transitive
1.
to worry or trouble, esp. with petty annoyances; harass, pester, etc.
2.
to bewilder or fluster
3.
to cause discomfort to
her sore foot bothers her
4.
to disturb; interrupt
verb intransitive
5.
to take the time and trouble; concern oneself
don't bother to reply
6.
to make a fuss
noun
7.
a cause or condition of worry or irritation; trouble; fuss
8.
a person who gives trouble
interjection
9.
used to express slight annoyance, worry, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: anˈnoy
Word origin
earlier bodder (in Swift); prob. Anglo-Ir for pother
Examples of 'bother' in a sentence
bother
Is nobody bothered about noise any more?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then why on earth should any of us bother to buy vehicle insurance?
The Sun (2017)
Is she bothered by police harassment as well as surveillance?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Fourteen per cent no longer bother with a wallet or purse.
The Sun (2016)
In the referendum people who usually cannot be bothered decided that they could be bothered.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It does not bother me one bit.
The Sun (2016)
You haven't bothered to get in any soft drinks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It won't bother him if the forecast rain arrived.
The Sun (2016)
I just block them, it doesn't bother me much.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Why is there so much news on the radio if most people do not bother with it?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It certainly bothered that woman on the plane.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The dream is telling you about something bothering your subconscious.
The Sun (2013)
Would an arms giant really bother spying on a small group like this?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
If this bothers you then again you have the power to change things.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Will anyone bother to use such a service?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Not that it bothers the police too much.
Brian Hoey AT HOME WITH THE QUEEN: The Inside Story of the Royal Household (2002)
So does it matter that people are becoming less bothered about what people think of them?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
People we thought were friends for life no longer bother.
The Sun (2014)
You can lose a kidney without much bother.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You would be amazed how it saves the bother of buying fresh carpets each day.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We can hardly be bothered to watch the programme now.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This spoiler business bothers him a little.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Many wasted teaching time by coming to seminars totally unprepared and clearly not having bothered to do any work.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Who's bothered anyway the darts are back soon!
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's a bother and a worry.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Those looking for a practical motor won't be bothered though.
The Sun (2015)
There is no shortage of pop stars so consumed by ambition that they wouldn't let such concerns bother them for a second.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
bother
British English: bother /ˈbɒðə/ VERB
If you do not bother to do something or if you do not botherwith it, you do not do it, consider it, or use it because you think it is unnecessary or because you are too lazy.
Lots of people don't bother to go through a marriage ceremony.
American English: bother
Arabic: يُقْلَقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: incomodar
Chinese: 打扰
Croatian: zamarati se
Czech: obtěžovat (se)
Danish: gøre sig den ulejlighed
Dutch: de moeite nemen
European Spanish: molestarse importunar
Finnish: vaivata
French: se tracasser
German: kümmern (sich)
Greek: ασχολούμαι
Italian: infastidire
Japanese: 悩ます
Korean: 괴롭히다
Norwegian: bry
Polish: przejmować się
European Portuguese: incomodar
Romanian: a se deranja
Russian: беспокоить
Latin American Spanish: molestar
Swedish: besvära
Thai: ทำให้ยุ่งยาก
Turkish: zahmet etmek
Ukrainian: турбувати(ся)
Vietnamese: quấy rầy
British English: bother NOUN
Bother means trouble or difficulty. You can also use bother to refer to an activity which causes this, especially when you would prefer not to do it or get involved with it.