to bother
Third Person
bothers
Present Participle
bothering
Past Tense
bothered
Past Participle
bothered
1
to annoy or trouble someone, especially when they are busy or want to be left alone
transitive
- The constant noise from the construction site bothered residents in the neighborhood.
- Please don't bother me while I'm working on this important project.
- He didn't want to bother his friend during a busy day at the office.
- Loud music late at night can bother people trying to sleep.
- Let me know if I'm bothering you, and I'll leave you alone.
2
to put effort and energy into doing something
transitive
- I didn't bother studying for the exam, and unsurprisingly, I didn't do well.
- She didn't bother reading the instructions before assembling the furniture, and now it's all wrong.
- Don't bother trying to fix the old computer; it's beyond repair.
- He didn't bother training for the race, so it's no wonder he didn't finish.
- If you're not going to bother listening to my advice, then don't ask for it in the first place.
3
to cause someone to feel worried, upset, or concerned
transitive
- I didn't want to bother my friend with my problems, but eventually, I realized that they were there to support me.
- Her headaches were bothering her, so I recommended Dr. Collins to her.
- The idea of leaving her family behind to travel bothered her.
- His lack of response bothered her, and she wondered if something was wrong.
- The thought of moving to a new city bothered her.
4
to cause someone to feel agitated or confused
transitive
- The sudden noise bothered him, making him feel uneasy.
- Her unexpected question seemed to bother him, leaving him unsure of how to respond.
- The complexity of the instructions bothered the team, and they weren't sure how to proceed.
- The sudden change in plans seemed to bother everyone in the group, causing confusion.
- The ambiguity of the situation bothered him, and he couldn’t make up his mind.
5
to interrupt or disturb someone by intruding into their space or time
transitive
- I’m sorry to bother you, but could you help me with this task?
- Please don’t bother me while I’m working.
- I didn’t mean to bother you, but I had an urgent question.
- She felt bad for bothering him with a trivial matter, but she needed assistance.
- I hate to bother you, but I think you’ve left your jacket behind.
6
to care or pay attention to something
- I won’t bother with that idea if it’s not going to work.
- Don’t bother with the extra details, just focus on the main points.
- He didn’t bother with the paperwork because it wasn’t necessary.
- She never bothers with gossip.