What does pestering mean?
Pestering means annoying someone repeatedly, usually by asking for something or insisting on an answer. The word often describes a child who continues to request a treat, a person who repeatedly seeks attention, or reporters who keep returning to the same subject. It can be affectionate or playful in some contexts, as in “She pestered me until I agreed,” but it commonly carries the implication of persistence and mild irritation. In stronger contexts, it can refer to harassment involving unwanted demands or attention. As a present participle, “pestering” describes the ongoing behavior: “Stop pestering me,” or “He was pestering the customer with questions.” The term is used in both British and American English and is understood across formal and informal registers, though it is more typical in everyday speech than in highly formal writing.
verbTo annoy someone repeatedly by making persistent requests or criticisms. It can also mean to harass someone with unwanted attention or demands.
- To annoy someone persistently by making repeated requests or criticisms.
- To harass someone with unwanted attention, demands, or behavior.
"The children kept pestering their father for another slice of cake."
"She kept pestering him about the weekend plans."
"Reporters pestered the minister for an answer to their questions."
To pester someone is to keep returning to a request, question, or complaint until it is answered—or until you have worn down their patience.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pestering come from?
The word comes from the older English noun “pester,” originally associated with a scourge or troublesome person, and its modern sense developed toward persistent annoyance. The verb is related by history and word-family connection to words such as “pest,” “pestilent,” and “pesticide,” which share the older idea of something harmful or troublesome. The form “pestering” is the present participle of the verb and became common in both everyday and literary usage.
Related word forms
How pestering is actually used
Generally informal to neutral. It often describes behavior that is mildly irritating rather than severely threatening, although the second sense can imply persistent harassment.