Vocabulary in context
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Disturb
To interrupt the normal course or functioning of something; to interfere with or upset someone or something.
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Imagine This
Imagine you're studying in a quiet library and a phone suddenly rings, shattering the silence and disturbing your concentration.
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Sounds Like
dih-STURB
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Looks Like
looks like related terms such as disturbance or disturbing; shares the root turb- meaning to agitate
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Remember This
Disturb is commonly used with sleep, concentration, peace, or the smooth running of an activity. A common legal phrase is disturb the peace.
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Other Forms
disturbedadjective
disturbingadjective
disturbancenoun
disturbernoun
disturbinglyadverb
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Connect With
interrupt, disrupt, upset, unsettled, interfere with, disturbance, turbulence
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Note
Disturb is transitive and usually takes an object (someone or something): 'disturb someone', 'disturb the sleep', 'disturb the meeting'. Do not confuse with similar-sounding words like 'distinguish' or 'distaste'. In phrases like 'disturb the peace', it takes on a formal, often legal meaning.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The loud construction outside disturbed the students' concentration during the exam.
- A sudden phone call disturbed her while she was drafting the report.
Synonyms
upsetdisruptperturbunsettleinterfere with
Antonyms
calmsoothequiet
Etymology
From Latin disturbare, dis- ('apart') + turbare ('to agitate'); related to turb- in turbulent, turbulence, disturbance. The sense is to throw into disorder or agitation.
Mnemonic
Dis TURB: Disturb means to introduce turbulence into a calm situation; remember by thinking: when you disturb something, you stir up TURBulence.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
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verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
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verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
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verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
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verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
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verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.
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verbTo free someone from blame or responsibility; to pardon or exonerate.
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