bother

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To annoy, to disturb, to irritate

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

   • Would it bother you if I smoked?
2. 2

   To feel care or concern

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

   • I never bother about such trivialities.
   • I wouldn't bother with an umbrella if I were you.
   • To expand, without bothering about it—without shiftless timidity on one side, or loquacious eagerness on the other—to the full compass of what he would have called a "pleasant" experience, was Newman's most definite programme of life.
3. 3

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

   • Why do I even bother to try?
4. ›+ 3 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Fuss, ado.

      • There was a bit of bother at the hairdresser's when they couldn't find my appointment in the book.
      • It was a 15-minute return trip to walk back home to pick up my device, but I weighed it up and decided that it wasn’t worth the bother.
   2. 5

      Trouble, inconvenience.

      • Yes, I can do that for you—it’s no bother.
   3. 6

      A mild expression of annoyance.

      • [H]e suddenly flung down his brush on the floor, said "Bother!" and "Oh blow!" and also "Hang spring-cleaning!" and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put on his coat.
      • "Oh, help!" said Pooh. "I'd better go back." "Oh, bother!" said Pooh. "I shall have to go on." "I can't do either!" said Pooh. "Oh, help and bother!"

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