bother

CEFRB1

/ˈbɔðə(ɹ)/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To annoy someone or cause trouble.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To feel care or concern; to burden or inconvenience oneself out of concern.

Examples

  • I will play Sudoku then instead of continuing to bother you.

  • You needn't bother asking Rick—I know he's too busy.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To annoy, to disturb, to irritate; to be troublesome to, to make trouble for.

  2. Damn; curse.

  3. To take the trouble, to trouble oneself (to do something).

More examples

In context

  • Don't bother to call on him.

  • I wouldn't bother with an umbrella if I were you.

  • Would it bother you if I smoked?

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Please do not blank me while I am studying for the exam.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

Borrowed from Scots bauther, bather (“to bother”). Origin unknown. Perhaps related to Scots pother (“to make a stir or commotion, bustle”), also of unknown origin. Compare English pother (“to poke, prod”), variant of potter (“to poke”). More at potter. Perhaps related to Irish bodhaire (“noise”), Irish bodhraim (“to deafen, annoy”).