DictionaryAI

bother

USBAH-thur/ˈbɑðɚ/SayBO-thuh/ˈbɒðə(ɹ)/AUS/ˈbɔðə(ɹ)/

Verbbothers, bothering, bothered

Noun pluralbothers

8 meanings of bother

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To annoy or upset someone, or to cause them trouble.

    Like a fly that keeps landing on you and won't go away.

    The loud music started to bother the neighbors.

    Mosquitoes bothered us all evening.

    Similarannoy, irritate, disturb, bug, vex

    Oppositeplease, soothe, calm

    Note
  2. 2
    verbcatenativeintransitive
    To make the effort to do something.

    He didn't bother to call ahead.

    Why bother arguing with someone who won't listen?

    Similartrouble

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable or uncountable
    Trouble or difficulty that takes time and effort.

    It's no bother to give you a ride home.

    Getting the visa was a real bother.

    Similartrouble, inconvenience, hassle, nuisance, annoyance

    Note
  4. 4
    verbintransitivereflexive
    To feel concern about something, or to worry about it.

    Don't bother about the mess. I'll clean it later.

    She never bothered about what others thought of her.

    Similarcare, mind, worry

    Note
  5. 5
    verbcatenativeintransitive
    To do something small that takes hardly any effort.

    You could at least bother to wipe your feet.

    Nobody bothered to turn off the lights.

    Similartrouble

    Note
  6. 6
    noununcountable
    A lot of fuss or excitement about something.

    There was a lot of bother over the seating plan.

    He made such a bother about a tiny mistake.

    Similarfuss, commotion, disturbance, ado, hubbub

    Note
  7. 7
    verbeuphemistictransitiveimperative
    A gentle way of saying 'damn it' about something annoying.

    Oh, bother the whole thing. I give up!

    Bother these tangled wires!

    Similardamn, hang, blast, confound

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 8
    interjectiondatedeuphemistic
    Said when something mildly annoys you.

    Oh, bother! I've forgotten my keys again.

    "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!"
    1926, A A Milne, Winnie the PoohHere, bother is said to show mild annoyance.

    Similardrat, blast, darn, dash

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of bother apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from a Scots word 'bauther' meaning 'to bother'. Where that came from is not known.