annoy
gb/ənˈɔɪ/ us/ənˈɔɪ/
A2
English
~ 800
bosszant, idegesít
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to annoy [someone]
His constant humming began to annoy everyone in the office.
Az állandó dúdolása kezdett mindenkit idegesíteni az irodában.
It really annoys me when people are late for meetings.
Nagyon bosszant, amikor az emberek elkésnek az értekezletekről.
The buzzing mosquito annoyed her all night.
Loud phone conversations on the bus can annoy other passengers.
She didn't mean to annoy him, but she kept interrupting.
Learner examples
My brother annoys me when he takes my things.
A bátyám idegesít, amikor elveszi a holmijaimat.
Loud music at night annoys the neighbors.
Az éjszakai hangos zene bosszantja a szomszédokat.
It annoys me when people talk in the cinema.
Her questions annoy the teacher sometimes.
The flies annoy us during lunch outside.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'annoy' with 'angry'. 'Annoy' is milder and often temporary, while 'angry' is stronger.
Meaning
to irritate or bother someone
Collocations
annoy someone
|really annoy
|slightly annoy
|annoying habit
|annoy the neighbors
Synonyms
irritate (Slightly more formal and can suggest both physical and emotional discomfort.)
|
bother (More casual and can imply inconvenience as well as irritation.)
Antonyms
please (Means to make someone happy or satisfied, the opposite emotional effect of annoy.)
|
delight (Implies giving great pleasure, directly opposing annoyance.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone a little angry or upset, often by doing something again and again.
To make someone feel slightly angry, bothered, or uncomfortable, often by doing something repeatedly or persistently.
Grammar
Dictionary form
annoy
IPA
GB/ənˈɔɪ/
US/ənˈɔɪ/
Syllables & stress
an - noy (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (noy)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: annoy
- 3rd Person Singular: annoys
- Present Participle: annoying
- Past: annoyed
Word family
Expressions
annoy the hell out of
1/ənˈɔɪ ðə hˈɛl ˈaʊt əv/
idiom
informal
to irritate greatly
To make someone very angry or upset.
Examples
- That constant beeping is annoying the hell out of me.
- He annoyed the hell out of his coworkers by playing loud music.
annoying habit
1/ənˈɔɪɪŋ hˈæbət/
fixed phrase
irritating repeated behavior
Something someone does often that makes other people a little angry.
Examples
- Chewing loudly is one of his most annoying habits.
- She has an annoying habit of tapping her pen.
get on someone's nerves
1/ɡˈɛt ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌnz nˈɚvz/
idiom
annoy or irritate someone
To annoy someone again and again so that they feel tense or angry.
Examples
- Her constant complaining is getting on my nerves.
- His constant humming is really getting on my nerves.
- He gets on my nerves when he talks during movies.
- The traffic noise got on her nerves after a while.
- Stop tapping your pen; it's getting on everyone's nerves.