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# bother

verb (bother, bothers, bothered, bothering); noun (bother — uncountable; a bother); interjection (Bother!)

«bother» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To bother someone is to annoy them or interrupt them: «Don't bother me while I'm reading.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#m1)
2. If something bothers you, it worries or upsets you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#m2)
3. To bother (to do something) is to make the effort: «He didn't bother to wash his hands.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#m3)
4. Bother is trouble or effort: «It's no bother.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#m4)
5. «Bother!» is a mild old-fashioned word said when something goes wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#m5)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and manners: «Sorry to bother you, but…» is a polite way to start asking an adult for help; «It's no bother» is a polite answer. In feelings lessons, «What's bothering you?» invites someone to share a worry. Safety: if anything online or anyone bothers you, tell a trusted adult. Phrases: «sorry to bother you», «no bother», «can't be bothered», «don't bother».

### Examples

- Sorry to bother you, but where is the library? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x1)
- Please don't bother the dog while it's eating. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x2)
- What's bothering you? You look sad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x3)
- The noise didn't bother me. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x4)
- He didn't even bother to say thank you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x5)
- «Thanks for helping!» «It's no bother.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x6)
- I can't be bothered to tidy my room. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x7)
- Oh, bother! I forgot my lunchbox. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x8)
- "Do not bother me," said the potter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/#x9)

### Note

Past: bothered. Pattern: «bother to do» or «bother doing». «Can't be bothered» (UK/Aus/NZ) is informal and sounds lazy. If someone keeps bothering you after you say stop, that may be bullying — tell an adult. Winnie-the-Pooh often says «Oh, bother!»

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bother» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bother/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bother» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bother.html) on Mova free.