English Explanatory Dictionary

pester

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To bother, harass, or annoy persistently.
  2. To crowd together thickly.
noun
  1. A bother or nuisance.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɛstə(ɹ)/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-pester.wav /ˈpɛstɚ/ [ˈpʰɛstɚ]

Word forms

pester pesters pestering pestered

Etymology

In the senses of “overcrowd (a place)” and “impede (a person)”: from Middle French and Old French empestrer (“encumber”), influenced by English pest. The modern sense is an extension of the sense “infest”. Comparable to English construction pest + -er (used to form frequentative verbs).

Synonyms

badger bait bedevil beleaguer persecute bug devil beset chevy give someone grief harass harry hound pester pick at plague vex cattle up crowd flock huddle throng

Antonyms

get out of someone's ear get out of someone's face get up off give someone a break leave alone let alone lay off tolerate

Related words

pest pick on

Derived words

bepester pesterable pesterer pesteringly pesterment pesterous pester power pestersome pestery unpestered
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