bother
High frequencyInformal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To cause trouble or inconvenience; to make someone feel worried or annoyed.
Used to express mild annoyance or frustration, often in negative or interrogative constructions. Can refer to a state of worry or an irritating person/thing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word's strength is context-dependent. In positive statements (e.g., 'I bothered to call'), it implies a level of effort or inconvenience. In negative statements (e.g., 'Don't bother'), it suggests something is not worth effort. It can also be a noun ('What a bother!') expressing a minor annoyance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used similarly in both varieties, but the noun form ('a bit of a bother') and exclamatory 'Bother!' are more common in British English. In American English, 'bother' can sometimes sound slightly more formal or dated in casual annoyance expressions compared to 'annoy' or 'bug'.
Connotations
In British English, it often carries a connotation of understatement or mild irritation. In American English, it may sometimes be perceived as a politer alternative to stronger terms like 'annoy'.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English overall, particularly in the negative imperative ('Don't bother') and as an interjection.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Verb + object (It bothers me)Verb + infinitive (I bothered to ask)Verb + preposition + NP (Don't bother with that)Verb (intransitive - 'Stop bothering!')Noun (It's such a bother).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “can't be bothered”
- “hot and bothered”
- “not bother one's head about”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'Sorry to bother you, but I need the Q3 figures.' Used for polite interruptions or acknowledging minor requests.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. May appear in informal discourse: 'Don't bother with that outdated source.'
Everyday
Very common: 'Does the noise bother you?' 'Don't bother washing up.' 'What's bothering you?'
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Does the draught bother you?
- I can't be bothered to go to the shops.
- He's always bothering his sister.
- Don't bother locking up.
American English
- Does the draft bother you?
- I can't be bothered going to the store.
- Stop bothering your little brother.
- Don't bother locking up.
adverb
British English
- This is a botheringly complex form to fill out.
American English
- This is a botheringly complicated form to fill out.
adjective
British English
- He got quite hot and bothered during the debate.
- It was a bothersome noise.
American English
- She was all hot and bothered before the meeting.
- It was a bothersome issue.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Sorry to bother you.
- Does the cat bother you?
- Don't bother!
- The mosquitoes didn't bother us last night.
- I didn't bother calling because I knew he was out.
- It's not worth the bother.
- What bothers me most is his lack of apology.
- She couldn't be bothered with the bureaucracy.
- He's in a state of bother over the exam results.
- The philosophical implications of the study bothered him for weeks.
- She dismissed the criticism with a wave, refusing to let it bother her.
- The constant bother of commuting finally drove him to look for a remote job.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOTHERsome BROTHER (BOTHER) who constantly annoys you.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANNOYANCE IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN (e.g., 'Don't bother yourself', 'Weighed down by bother').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'bother' as 'беспокоить' in every context. 'I can't be bothered' means 'Мне лень' (I can't be arsed), not 'Я не могу быть обеспокоен'.
- The noun 'a bother' is a mild annoyance, not a major problem. It's closer to 'хлопоты/неприятность', not 'беспокойство/проблема'.
- In 'Sorry to bother you', 'bother' means 'отвлекать/беспокоить', not 'надоедать'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'It bothers me when he is smoking.' Correct: '...when he smokes.' (Use simple present for habitual actions.)
- Incorrect: 'I bothered him to help me.' (Ambiguous: Did you annoy him into helping, or did you take the trouble to help him?)
- Overusing 'bother' for serious problems. 'The war bothered the population' is too weak; use 'distressed', 'plagued', etc.
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'I can't be bothered', what is the closest meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily used in informal or neutral contexts. In very formal writing, synonyms like 'disturb', 'inconvenience', or 'trouble' may be preferred.
'Bother' often implies causing worry or mild irritation, sometimes with a sense of inconvenience. 'Annoy' suggests a stronger, more persistent feeling of irritation. Something that 'bothers' you might preoccupy your thoughts; something that 'annoys' you actively irritates you.
Yes, but it often carries a nuance of inconvenience or effort. For example, 'He bothered to thank everyone personally' implies he took the trouble to do so.
Primarily, yes. It relates to trouble, annoyance, or worry. However, in phrases like 'Sorry to bother you...', it functions as a polite formula for making a request, softening the implied inconvenience.