Meaning of bother In English

• 0 to make the effort to do something:

  • [ + to infinitive ] He hasn't even bothered to write.

  • You could have phoned us but you just didn't bother.

  • [ + -ing verb ] Don't bother making the bed - I'll do it later.

  • [ + -ing verb or + to infinitive ] You'd have found it if you'd bothered looking/to look.

  • You won't get any credit for doing it, so why bother?

  • I can't be bothered to iron my clothes.

  • Most evenings I can't be bothered cooking.

• 1 to make someone feel worried or upset:

  • Does it bother you that he's out so much of the time?

  • Living on my own has never bothered me.

  • I don't care if he doesn't come - it doesn't bother me.

  • [ + that ] It bothers me that he doesn't seem to notice.

• 2 to annoy or cause problems for someone:

  • Don't bother your father when he's working.

  • I'm sorry to bother you, but could you help me lift this suitcase?

  • I didn't want to bother her with work matters on her day off.

  • The noise was beginning to bother us, so we left.

  • She threatened to call the police if he didn't stop bothering her.

• 3 trouble or problems:

  • I can take you there - it's really no bother.

  • Some people don't get married because they don't want the bother (= they don't want to make the effort that is necessary).

  • Please don't go to any bother on my account (= don't make any special effort for me).

  • It hardly seems worth the bother to go all that way just for two nights.

  • UK I had a bit of bother getting hold of his phone number.

• 4 an annoying person or situation:

  • I'm sorry to be a bother, but could I have that number again?

• 5 used to express anger:

  • Oh bother! It's raining and I left my umbrella at home.

• 6 to make an effort to do something, esp. something that is not convenient:

  • You won’t get any credit for doing it, so why bother?

  • Don’t bother doing the laundry.

  • [ + to infinitive ] He didn’t even bother to say goodbye.

• 7 to annoy, worry, or cause problems for someone:

  • [ T ] The heat was beginning to bother him, so he sat down.

  • [ T ] Does it bother you if your children aren’t interested?

• 8 a big effort:

  • I’m not sure gardening is worth the bother.

• 9 something that annoys or causes problems for someone:

  • That dog has never been a bother to anyone.