to give trouble to; annoy; pester; worry

His baby sister bothered him for candy.

to bewilder; confuse

His inability to understand the joke bothered him.

to take the trouble; trouble or inconvenience oneself

Don't bother to call. He has no time to bother with trifles.

something troublesome, burdensome, or annoying

Doing the laundry every week can be a terrible bother.

effort, work, or worry

Gardening takes more bother than it's worth.

a worried or perplexed state

Don't get into such a bother about small matters.

someone or something that bothers or annoys

My cousin is a perpetual bother to me.

Chiefly British . (used to express mild irritation.)

noun

aid , convenience , help

verb

aid , help , please , ignore , neglect

noun

ado , aggravation , annoyance , anxiety , bellyache * , botheration , bustle , care , concern , difficulty , distress , drag * , exasperation , flurry , fuss , headache * , irritant , irritation , molestation , nudge , nuisance , pain , pain in the neck * , perplexity , pest , plague , pother * , pressure , problem , strain , to-do * , trial , trouble , vexation , worriment , worry , besetment , peeve , torment , pother

verb

afflict , aggravate , agitate , alarm , badger , bedevil , bore , browbeat , carp at , concern , cross , discommode , disconcert , disgust , dismay , displease , disquiet , distress , disturb , eat , embarrass , exacerbate , exasperate , goad , grate on , grieve , harry , hinder , hurt , impede , inconvenience , insult , intrude upon , irk , irritate , molest , nag , needle , nudge , pain , perplex , perturb , pester , pick on , plague , provoke , pursue , put out , ride , scare , spite , tantalize , taunt , tease , torment , trouble , upset , vex , worry , be concerned about , concern oneself , exert oneself , fuss over , go out of one’s way , make a fuss about , make an effort , put oneself out , take pains , try , worry about , bug , chafe , fret , gall , get , nettle , peeve , rile , ruffle , discompose , distract , flurry , fluster , rock , shake , toss , unsettle , ado , ail , annoy , bewilder , confuse , fuss , harass , hassle , headache , incommode , nuisance , pest , puzzle , tamper