disturb
dih-STURB
Disturb (verb) means to interrupt someone's peace, quiet, or concentration. Example: “Please don't disturb her — she's working on a deadline.”
verb
1
To interrupt someone's peace, quiet, or concentration.
"Please don't disturb her — she's working on a deadline."
"Sorry to disturb you, but your taxi has just arrived."
"The noise from the road disturbed the baby's sleep all night."
2
To upset or trouble someone emotionally.
"The news of the accident disturbed the whole neighborhood."
"It disturbs me that nobody has heard from him for weeks."
"The film's final scene disturbed many viewers long after they left."
How to use disturb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo interrupt, upset, or throw something off its normal calm state.
Common pairings
disturb the peace
sorry to disturb you
do not disturb
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- disturbs
- Past tense
- disturbed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please don't _____ her — she's working on a deadline.
Etymology
From Old French destorber, from Latin disturbare, "to throw into disorder" — combining dis- with turbare ("to agitate"), the same root as turbulent.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “disturb” mean?
The word “disturb” means to interrupt someone's peace, quiet, or concentration. In plain terms, to interrupt, upset, or throw something off its normal calm state.
How do you pronounce “disturb”?
“Disturb” is pronounced dih-STURB (/dɪˈstɝb/ in IPA).
How do you use “disturb” in a sentence?
Here is “disturb” used in a sentence: “Please don't disturb her — she's working on a deadline.”
What is another word for “disturb”?
Words with a similar meaning to “disturb” include upset.
What part of speech is “disturb”?
“Disturb” is a verb.
Where does the word “disturb” come from?
The word “disturb” comes from Latin. From Old French destorber, from Latin disturbare, "to throw into disorder" — combining dis- with turbare ("to agitate"), the same root as turbulent.
Is “disturb” a common word?
“Disturb” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “disturb” have?
“Disturb” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to interrupt someone's peace, quiet, or concentration.
What is the difference between disturb and interrupt?
Disturb generally means to interrupt someone's peace, quiet, or concentration, often implying an unwelcome intrusion, as in "sorry to disturb you." Interrupt more specifically refers to breaking in on an action or speech, such as interrupting a conversation, without necessarily affecting someone's calm or peace of mind.
Can disturb describe an emotional reaction rather than a physical interruption?
Yes, disturb can also mean to upset or trouble someone emotionally, as in "the news disturbed her deeply." In this sense it describes an emotional effect rather than a literal interruption of quiet or activity.
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