Bothering
/ˈbɒðəriŋ/
verbBeginner📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase1 question
Definitions
1
To cause worry, inconvenience, or annoyance.
/ˈbɒðəriŋ/
verbnegativeBeginner
General
To cause annoyance or trouble to someone.
Stop bothering me!
💡 Simply: To annoy or trouble someone.
More Examples
2
The mosquitoes were bothering him all night.
How It's Used
Everyday conversation
"The noise from the construction site was bothering me."
Workplace
"I'm bothering you with this issue, but it needs to be addressed."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Can't be bothered
Too lazy or unwilling to do something.
"I can't be bothered to do the dishes."
From Middle English *botheren, from Old English *botherian, possibly of Germanic origin.
The word 'bother' has a long history, appearing in various forms in Middle English and earlier.
Memory tip
Think of a 'bother' as a small problem that irritates.
Word Origin
Original meaning
"To cause trouble or worry"
Base: bother
bothering someonebothering to do somethingcan't be bothered
Common misspellings
botheringgbotherring
Practice
Usage
70%Spoken
30%Written