aggravate

Everyday

1. To make a problem, injury or illness worse. tree →
2. (informal) To annoy someone. tree →

In the lessons

In health and first aid: running can aggravate a sprained ankle. In everyday talk: "Stop aggravating your sister!" In law: aggravated assault is a more serious crime. Phrases: aggravate an injury, aggravate the problem, aggravating.

Examples

• Running on it will aggravate your injury. tree →
• Scratching aggravates the itch. tree →
• Shouting only aggravated the problem. tree →
• My little brother really aggravates me. tree →
• Smoke can aggravate asthma. tree →
• It's so aggravating when the bus is late. tree →
• "And to be sure it isn't pleasing to me, you aggravating goose-cap!" tree →

Note

Some people say only meaning 1 is correct, but meaning 2 (annoy) is very common. Noun: aggravation; in UK slang "aggro" means trouble or violence. Spelling: double g, single v.