From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbotherboth‧er1 /ˈbɒðə $ ˈbɑːðər/ ●●● S1 W3 verb 1 make an effort [intransitive, transitive usually in questions and negatives]DO something/TAKE ACTION to make the effort to do something(not) bother to do something He didn’t bother to answer the question.not bother about/with He didn’t bother with a reply.(not) bother doing something Many young people didn’t bother voting.don’t/didn’t/won’t etc bother ‘Do you want me to wait for you?’ ‘No, don’t bother.’ Why bother to go abroad, when there are so many nice places here?2 worry [intransitive, transitive]WORRIED to make someone feel slightly worried, upset, or concerned Being in a crowd really bothers me. It was very noisy, but that didn’t bother me.bother about especially British English I try not to bother about what other people think.it bothers somebody that/how/when It really bothered me that he’d forgotten my birthday.3 annoy [intransitive, transitive]DISTURB to annoy someone, especially by interrupting them when they are trying to do something Danny, don’t bother Ellen while she’s reading. Would it bother you if I put on some music?bother somebody about/with something It didn’t seem worth bothering the doctor about.4 → somebody can’t/couldn’t be bothered (to do something)5 cause pain [transitive] if a part of your body bothers you, it is slightly painful or uncomfortable My back’s been bothering me.6 → sorry to bother you7 frighten [transitive]HURT/CAUSE PAIN to upset or frighten someone by talking to them when they do not want to talk to you, trying to hurt them, touch them sexually etc Don’t worry – my dog won’t bother you. If he starts bothering you, let me know. 8 → not bother yourself/not bother your head9 → bother it/them etc→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
bother• Just because you live alone does not mean that you should not bother.• And it was then she finally asked me a question that has bothered her for twenty years.• Something's bothering him but I'm not sure what.• You know the story by heart.-Then why did you bother in the first place?• Will you stop bothering me? I'm trying to watch a program.• The only thing that bothers me is how I'm going to get from the station to the farm.• What bothers me is that you didn't feel you could talk to me or your father about it.• Actually, my back hasn't been bothering me.• Because employers do not bother, the papers can be produced cheaply, so more illegal immigrants come in.• None of which may initially bother the Western Koi-keeper, whose main concern is to provide good water quality for his fish.• Irate customers who bother to complain to their local water executives will be told the rises are no higher than were forecast.• You don't hand your homework in on time, or you don't even bother to do it.• I have challenged the prospective Labour candidate in Harrow, West to do so, but he has not bothered to reply.• Sorry to bother you, but could you help me one more time with the copier?• Will it bother you if I play some music?• "Why didn't you ask me for help?" "I didn't want to bother you."• You shouldn't let little things like that bother you.• Excuse me, Miss, is that man bothering you?Why bother• And cheap too! Why bother?• I could check my calendar. Why bother?• Judged on these grounds, the new proposals from the Basle Committee seem to make sense. Why bother?• Less and less. Why bother?• We now turn to consider why a counter-strategy should be mounted against this loss of a universal citizenship. Why Bother?• Tough guy or sweet guy? Why bother being Hollywood if you end up with such an identity crisis?bother about• U.S. officials no longer bother about diplomatic politeness.botherbother2 noun 1 [uncountable] especially British EnglishPROBLEM trouble or difficulty that has been caused by small problems and that usually only continues for a short time SYN trouble It’s an old car, but it’s never caused me any bother.bother with Joe’s been having a bit of bother with his back again. ‘Thanks for your help.’ ‘It was no bother (=used to emphasize that you were happy to help someone) at all.’ My mother hardly ever went to the bother of (=the effort of) making cakes. Are you sure the station is on your way? I don’t want to give you any extra bother. I should have phoned the shop first and saved myself the bother of going there.something is more bother than it’s worth (=it is too difficult to be worth doing)2 → a botherExamples from the Corpus
bother• New husbands could be a bother sometimes.• I can pick up a letter there without any bother.• It was enough bother having to share my mum and my dad.• It was not so much that she distrusted banks as the bother for the visit.• Still keeps all the lights out at night in case the bother starts again.• Unfortunately the bits in between are hard work and ultimately are not really worth the bother.saved ... the bother of• Because there was neither carriage nor honeymoon Harry was saved the bother of providing sacks of rose-petal confetti.botherbother3 interjection British English informal ANNOYused when you are slightly annoyed Oh bother! I forgot to phone Jean.Origin bother1 (1600-1700) Perhaps from Irish Gaelic bodhar “deaf, bothered” 