bothers

1. 1
   verb

   Third-person singular present of bother.

   Her brother's constant teasing bothers her more than she admits.

   Nothing bothers him once he settles into his work.

   Note

   The -s form a singular subject calls for, and it carries every use of the verb: it bothers her (annoys), he never bothers to call (takes the trouble), she bothers about details (feels concern). In questions and negatives the ending moves onto does and bother stands bare: does it bother you?, he doesn't bother. The same spelling is also the noun's plural. After a or the, or an adjective like little, it is the noun.

2. 2
   noun

   Plural of bother.

   She brushed aside the little bothers of moving and focused on the new job.

   Daily life brings minor bothers that add up over a week.

   Note

   A plural that only the countable noun can have. Bother as a mass noun never takes an -s: it's no bother, all that bother. Once it names separate annoyances, they can be counted: the little bothers of moving, minor daily bothers. Adjectives of size such as little and minor are its natural company. Context, not spelling, separates it from the verb's present form.

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