Bothering

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.)
Contemporary Examples

Brooklyn’s Lazy Carpetbagger Sets His Sights on an Alaska Senate Seat David Freedlander December 3, 2013
Defining the Echo Chamber Justin Green January 15, 2013
How ‘Transcendence’ Director Wally Pfister Became Christopher Nolan’s Secret Weapon Andrew Romano April 16, 2014
The Media Blackout on Hostages Helps ISIS Jamie Dettmer September 1, 2014
Why Retrying Amanda Knox Is Important Barbie Latza Nadeau March 26, 2013

Historical Examples

Motor Matt’s Triumph, or, Three Speeds Forward Stanley R. Matthews
The Rock of Chickamauga Joseph A. Altsheler
Lippincott’s Magazine, December 1878 Various
The Mayflower, January, 1905 Various
Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue on Grandpa’s Farm Laura Lee Hope

verb
(transitive) to give annoyance, pain, or trouble to; irritate: his bad leg is bothering him again
(transitive) to trouble (a person) by repeatedly disturbing; pester: stop bothering your father!
(intransitive) to take the time or trouble; concern oneself: don’t bother to come with me
(transitive) to make (a person) alarmed or confused: the thought of her husband’s return clearly bothered her
noun
a state of worry, trouble, or confusion
a person or thing that causes fuss, trouble, or annoyance
(informal) a disturbance or fight; trouble (esp in the phrase a spot of bother)
interjection
(mainly Brit) an exclamation of slight annoyance
v.