bothers
word · lemma: bother
Definition
'Bothers' is usually the third-person singular form of 'bother'. It means to annoy, worry, or slightly upset someone, or to cause enough concern that someone pays attention to it.
Usage & Nuances
Often used for small or medium annoyance: 'It bothers me' is common and natural. It can also mean emotional concern, as in 'What bothers you?'. Common patterns: 'bothers me', 'doesn't bother him', 'if that bothers you'. Less strong than 'infuriates' and often more personal than 'annoys'.
Example Sentences
Loud music bothers my sister at night.
basic
It bothers him when people are late.
basic
Does this smell bother you?
basic
What really bothers me is that nobody said sorry.
natural
It doesn't usually bother me, but today I'm tired.
natural
If it bothers you that much, we can talk about it.
natural