inconvenience
/ˌɪnkənˈviːniəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnkənˈviːniəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-kən-ˈvē-nyən(t)s/ (ame, mw) · /ˌɪn.kənˈviː.ni.əns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪn.kənˈviːn.jəns/ (ame, ipa)
inconvenience — noun
- inconveniencesingular
- inconveniencesplural
1. a small problem or extra effort that makes a task, plan, or daily routine harder
a small problem or extra effort that makes a task, plan, or daily routine harder or less comfortable than it should be; this word can also refer to anyone or anything that creates such difficulty
The sudden rain caused a great inconvenience for Ziad, who had no umbrella with him.
collocation: cause inconvenience
Yael considered the long wait at the clinic a minor inconvenience.
collocation: (a) minor inconvenience
The broken printer was a real inconvenience to the whole office team.
For the night-shift nurse, the power cut was more than a small inconvenience.
Christopher apologized for any inconvenience caused by the last-minute change of plan.
- trouble
broader term; can be more serious than inconvenience
- bother
suggests a mild personal annoyance; less formal
- hassle
informal; implies a tiresome, annoying process
- disruption
stronger; suggests normal activity is broken or stopped
- convenience
the opposite quality of being easy or suitable
- comfort
a state of ease and freedom from difficulty
文法句型
inconvenience + to + [person]
cause + inconvenience
a(n) + inconvenience
用法筆記
Often appears in polite customer-service expressions such as 'We apologize for any inconvenience.' Can refer to both the difficult situation itself and the person or object that creates it.
常見錯誤
inconvenience — verb
- inconveniencepresent simple I / you / we / they
- inconveniences3rd person singular
- inconveniencing-ing form
- inconveniencedpast simple
1. to create extra work, delay, or discomfort for someone, especially by changing p
to create extra work, delay, or discomfort for someone, especially by changing plans or interrupting their usual routine
Samir did not want to inconvenience his friend by arriving late to dinner.
pattern: not want to inconvenience [someone]
Hoa apologized for inconveniencing her guests with the last-minute change of venue.
pattern: apologise for inconveniencing [someone]
The airline inconvenienced hundreds of passengers by cancelling all evening flights.
Mayumi asked whether the extra luggage would inconvenience anyone in the car.
The librarian tried not to inconvenience readers while rearranging the shelves.
- help
to make things easier for someone, rather than harder
- accommodate
to adjust to someone's needs, making things convenient
文法句型
inconvenience + [someone]
not want to inconvenience + [someone]
sorry to inconvenience + [someone]
用法筆記
Common in polite formal contexts such as requests, apologies, and customer service. 'Inconvenience' as a verb is more formal than 'bother' or 'trouble' and is typically used when the speaker wants to show respect for the other person's time or comfort.