bothering

5 definitions • 15 examples

present participle of

to make the effort to do something:

[ + to infinitive ] He hasn't even bothered to write.

You could have phoned us but you just didn't bother.

[ + -ing verb ] Don't bother making the bed - I'll do it later.

[ + -ing verb or + to infinitive ] You'd have found it if you'd bothered looking/to look.

why bother You won't get any credit for doing it, so why bother?

If you can't be bothered doing/to do something, you are too lazy or tired to do it:

I can't be bothered to iron my clothes.

to make someone feel worried or upset:

Does it bother you that he's out so much of the time?

Living on my own has never bothered me.

I don't care if he doesn't come - it doesn't bother me.

[ + that ] It bothers me that he doesn't seem to notice.

to annoy or cause problems for someone:

Don't bother your father when he's working.

sorry to bother you I'm sorry to bother you, but could you help me lift this suitcase?

bother someone with something I didn't want to bother her with work matters on her day off.

The noise was beginning to bother us, so we left.

She threatened to call the police if he didn't stop bothering her.