English dictionary



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English noun: bother

1. bother (event) an angry disturbance


SamplesHe didn't want to make a fuss.
They had labor trouble.
A spot of bother.


Synonymsfuss, hassle, trouble


Broader (hypernym)disturbance, perturbation

2. bother (cognition) something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness


SamplesWashing dishes was a nuisance before we got a dish washer.
A bit of a bother.
He's not a friend, he's an infliction.


Synonymsannoyance, botheration, infliction, pain, pain in the ass, pain in the neck


Broader (hypernym)negative stimulus


Narrower (hyponym)irritant, nuisance, plague, thorn


English verb: bother

1. bother (social) take the trouble to do something; concern oneself


SamplesHe did not trouble to call his mother on her birthday.
Don't bother, please.


Synonymsinconvenience oneself, trouble, trouble oneself


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE


Broader (hypernym)reach, strain, strive

2. bother (emotion) cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations


SamplesMosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me.
It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves.


Synonymsannoy, chafe, devil, get at, get to, gravel, irritate, nark, nettle, rag, rile, vex


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)displease


Narrower (hyponym)antagonise, antagonize, beset, chevvy, chevy, chivvy, chivy, eat into, fret, fret, get, get under one's skin, grate, harass, harry, hassle, molest, peeve, plague, provoke, rankle, ruffle


Verb groupchafe

3. bother (social) to cause inconvenience or discomfort to


SamplesSorry to trouble you, but....


Synonymsdiscommode, disoblige, incommode, inconvenience, put out, trouble


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)affect, bear on, bear upon, impact, touch, touch on


Narrower (hyponym)distress, straiten

4. bother (motion) intrude or enter uninvited


SamplesDon't bother the professor while she is grading term papers.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)intrude, irrupt

5. bother (emotion) make nervous or agitated


SamplesThe mere thought of her bothered him and made his heart beat faster.


ExamplesThe bad news will bother him, The performance is likely to bother Sue


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)agitate, charge, charge up, commove, excite, rouse, turn on


Verb groupbother

6. bother (emotion) make confused or perplexed or puzzled


ExamplesThe bad news will bother him


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)confuse, disconcert, flurry, put off


Verb groupbother









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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