Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [both -er]
- /ˈbɒð ər/
- /ˈbɒðə(r)/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [both -er]
- /ˈbɒð ər/
Definitions of bother word
- verb bother If you do not bother to do something or if you do not bother with it, you do not do it, consider it, or use it because you think it is unnecessary or because you are too lazy. 3
- uncountable noun bother Bother means trouble or difficulty. You can also use bother to refer to an activity which causes this, especially when you would prefer not to do it or get involved with it. 3
- uncountable noun bother You use bother to refer to serious trouble, usually when you want to make it sound less serious than it really is. 3
- verb bother If something bothers you, or if you bother about it, it worries, annoys, or upsets you. 3
- verb bother If someone bothers you, they talk to you when you want to be left alone or interrupt you when you are busy. 3
- verb bother to give annoyance, pain, or trouble to; irritate 3
Information block about the term
Origin of bother
First appearance:
before 1710 One of the 50% oldest English words
1710-20; orig. Hiberno-English; probably by hypercorrection from bodder, an alternate early form; origin obscure
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Bother
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
bother popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
bother usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for bother
noun bother
- aggravation — the act of aggravating, or making worse, or the condition of being aggravated
- distress — great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.
- strain — to draw tight or taut, especially to the utmost tension; stretch to the full: to strain a rope.
- irritation — the act of irritating or the state of being irritated.
- perplexity — the state of being perplexed; confusion; uncertainty.
verb bother
- hinder — to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede: The storm hindered our progress.
- dismay — to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt: The surprise attack dismayed the enemy.
- disturb — to interrupt the quiet, rest, peace, or order of; unsettle.
- aggravate — If someone or something aggravates a situation, they make it worse.
- perplex — to cause to be puzzled or bewildered over what is not understood or certain; confuse mentally: Her strange response perplexed me.
Antonyms for bother
noun bother
- happiness — the quality or state of being happy.
- health — the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor: good health; poor health.
- advantage — An advantage is something that puts you in a better position than other people.
- delight — Delight is a feeling of very great pleasure.
- calmness — without rough motion; still or nearly still: a calm sea.
verb bother
- assist — If you assist someone, you help them to do a job or task by doing part of the work for them.
- appease — If you try to appease someone, you try to stop them from being angry by giving them what they want.
- reassure — to restore to assurance or confidence: His praise reassured me.
- soothe — to tranquilize or calm, as a person or the feelings; relieve, comfort, or refresh: soothing someone's anger; to soothe someone with a hot drink.
- gladden — to make glad.
Top questions with bother
- why bother?
- how to spell bother?
- how do you spell bother?
- why even bother?
- how to not let things bother you?
- why bother quotes?
- what does bother mean?
- why bother lyrics?
- why do i even bother?
- why do i bother?
- why bother weezer?
- weezer why bother?
- why bother living?
- why bother michael pollan?
- how to play bother by stone sour on acoustic guitar?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with b
- Words starting with bo
- Words starting with bot
- Words starting with both
- Words starting with bothe
- Words starting with bother