# bothered

/ˈbɑðɝd/ (US) · /bˈɒðəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bothered
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. annoyed

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling slightly angry, annoyed, or upset about something.

For teachers: feeling a state of mild irritation or annoyance, often due to a persistent or repetitive disturbance.

- He looked a bit bothered when I asked him to move his car again.
- The manager seemed visibly bothered by the constant interruptions during his presentation, though he attempted to maintain a professional tone.

### 2. caring or concerned

adjective · CEFR B1

caring about something or being worried about it; often used in the negative to mean you don't care.

For teachers: concerned or worried about a particular situation; frequently used in negative constructions to indicate a lack of interest or motivation.

- I'm not really bothered about which restaurant we go to tonight.
- She wasn't particularly bothered by the negative reviews, as she felt the project had met its primary artistic goals regardless of public opinion.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'can't be bothered' to show a lack of motivation.

## Examples

- I was so tired that I never bothered to cook dinner.
- He didn't even bother to call and say he would be late for the meeting.
- While some critics argued the film required a deep analysis of its themes, most audiences never bothered to look past the flashy special effects.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.