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Which one to use?Intermediateverboverbo
BothervsDisturb
"Bother" is to annoy or trouble emotionally; "disturb" is to interrupt or unsettle.
Side-by-side comparison
Bother
verboTo cause annoyance, worry, or inconvenience. Also: to make the effort to do something.
Does the noise bother you? I can close the window.
Do not bother calling him, he never answers.
Something is bothering her but she will not say what.
Disturb
verboTo interrupt someone's peace, sleep, or concentration. To upset emotionally.
Sorry to disturb you, but there is someone at the door.
The graphic images in the documentary disturbed many viewers.
Please do not disturb. I am in a meeting until 3pm.
Common mistake
- •"He disturbed me" when you mean he simply annoyed you is imprecise.
- •"Disturb" implies physical interruption or deep psychological unsettling.
- •For everyday annoyance use "bother": "It bothers me that you are always late".
Trick to remember it
The hotel sign makes it clear: "Do Not Disturb" = don't interrupt my rest (physical). "Does this bother you?" = does this cause you annoyance? (emotional). Disturb = interruption. Bother = irritation.
Quick rule
- •"Bother" = annoy, trouble, inconvenience emotionally.
- •"Disturb" = interrupt physically or unsettle deeply.
Did you know?
"Disturb" comes from Latin "disturbare" (to completely disorder), sharing the root "turba" with "turbulence" and "turbulent", which explains its heavier weight. "Bother" comes from Irish "bodhar" (deaf, confused) and entered English in the 18th century. Until the 20th century it was considered informal slang, today it is one of the most common words for mild annoyance in both British and American English.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Please don't _____ me for the next hour. I need to concentrate.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
It really _____ me that he never says thank you after I help him.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
MindvsMatter
"Mind" expresses that something bothers or inconveniences you; "matter" expresses that something has importance or relevance.
NoisevsSound
"Noise" is unwanted or formless sound; "sound" is any acoustic signal, pleasant or not.
SayvsMean
"Say" is to produce words; "mean" is the intention or meaning behind them.
AbovevsOver
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy