annoy by + cause
Showing what causes annoyance
Use by after annoyed to identify the person, action, or thing creating irritation.
We were annoyed by the constant emails.
Annoy by, about, at, for, or to?
Annoy is usually followed by by for the cause, or used in the adjective form annoyed at/about something. Annoy to and annoy for are generally not standard after the verb annoy.
Quick answer
Common prepositions with annoy
Use annoy by to introduce the thing or person causing irritation. In adjective patterns, annoyed at and annoyed about are both common. Annoy to and annoy for are usually incorrect directly after annoy.
The noise annoyed by the neighbours kept everyone awake.
She was annoyed about the delay.
He seemed annoyed at the comment.
She was annoyed about the delay.
He seemed annoyed at the comment.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
annoyed about + situation
Talking about a subject or situation
Use annoyed about for a topic, problem, or event.
She is annoyed about the scheduling change.
annoyed at + action
Reacting to behaviour or remarks
Use annoyed at for something specific that upset or irritated someone.
He was annoyed at their rude reply.
annoy + object
Using annoy without a preposition
Annoy is often directly followed by the person affected.
The delays annoyed the passengers.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
annoyed by
They were annoyed by the construction noise.
The cause of annoyance is stated.
annoyed about
I'm annoyed about the mistake in the report.
The speaker refers to a situation or topic.
annoyed at
She was annoyed at his behaviour.
Focuses on a specific action or remark.
annoy to
Incorrect: She was annoy to the result.
Annoy is not normally followed by to in this sense.
annoy for
Incorrect: He was annoyed for the delay.
Use annoyed about or annoyed by instead.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using to after annoy
Do not use annoy to for the reason someone feels irritated.
✕ She was annoyed to the noise. ✓ She was annoyed by the noise.Using for instead of about
For is not the usual preposition after annoyed when discussing a situation.
✕ They were annoyed for the cancellation. ✓ They were annoyed about the cancellation.Forgetting the direct object
Annoy often takes a direct object without a preposition.
✕ The buzzing annoyed at me. ✓ The buzzing annoyed me.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. We were annoyed ___ the repeated interruptions.
2. She felt annoyed ___ the decision.
3. He was annoyed ___ their comments.
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Frequently asked questions
Is annoyed by correct?
Yes. Use annoyed by to name the cause of irritation.
What is the difference between annoyed at and annoyed about?
Annoyed at often refers to a specific action, while annoyed about is broader and refers to a situation or topic.
Can I say annoy to?
Not usually. After annoy, use direct objects or patterns such as annoyed by, annoyed at, or annoyed about.
Related preposition guides
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