Words / B1

BOTH-uh/ˈbɒðə/

Bother can mean annoy: sorry to bother you; don’t bother him while he is working. It can also mean take the trouble: don’t bother to cook; I can’t be bothered to go out. Annoy is only the first meaning. Disturb is a little more formal. Can’t be bothered is very common in British speech.

Meaning

To annoy someone, or to take the trouble to do something.

Examples

• “Sorry to bother you.”
• “Do not bother waiting — the shop is shut.”
• “The noise did not bother her at all.”

Good to know

sorry to bother you. don’t bother to + verb. British: can’t be bothered.

Near in meaning

annoy, disturb

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