bother
verb (used with object)
to annoy; give trouble to; pester.
was bothering
-
past progressiveof bother.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ohtani reported that the area from his biceps to his neck was bothering him Wednesday night, Roberts said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
He told the doctor he thought "something was bothering Maddy", and that she might need some help.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
“I tried to engage with the sommelier, and it was like I was bothering him,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025
My mother, rightly so, yelled at me because I was bothering the dog.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2024
Eisman would burst in late to these meetings, talk through whatever was bothering him, and then rush off before the others had a chance to tell him about their problems.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
