bother

I UK [ˈbɒðə(r)] / US [ˈbɑðər] verb
Word forms "bother":
present tense I/you/we/they bother he/she/it bothers present participle bothering past tense bothered past participle bothered
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1) [intransitive, usually in negatives or questions] if you do not bother to do something, you do not do it, either because there seems to be no good reason or because it involves too much effort

bother to do something:

It was such a stupid question, I didn't even bother to reply.

Has anyone ever bothered to ask the students for their opinion?

bother about:

Don't bother about driving me home, I'll walk.

bother with:

Why bother with a car when you have such good public transport here?

bother doing something:

He won't come, so why bother inviting him?

2) [transitive] to annoy someone by interrupting them when they are busy or want to be left alone

I called your office because I didn't want to bother you at home.

Are the children bothering you?

Doesn't the noise bother you when you're trying to sleep?

3) [transitive] to make someone feel worried or upset

There was something about him that really bothered her.

it bothers someone that/when:

Does it bother you that people think you're older than him?

a) to frighten someone, for example by following them around or trying to talk to them

If he keeps bothering you, you should call the police.

b) to cause someone physical pain

I could see that his knee was bothering him.

•

- someone can't be bothered

- don't bother

- I'm not bothered

- sorry to bother you

See:

hot I

II UK [ˈbɒðə(r)] / US [ˈbɑðər] noun

1) [uncountable] trouble or difficulty caused by doing something when this is annoying but not very serious

It will be an awful lot of bother going by bus.

the bother of doing something:

I didn't want the bother of carrying a camera around.

save someone the bother:

I'll get a taxi and save you the bother of taking me.

2) [singular] something or someone that causes trouble or annoys you

I hope George wasn't too much of a bother.

•

- it's no bother

- no bother

- a spot of bother

III UK [ˈbɒðə(r)] / US [ˈbɑðər] interjection British old-fashioned

used when you are annoyed about something