disrupt

[ dis-ruhpt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause disorder or turmoil in:

   The news disrupted their conference.

2. to destroy, usually temporarily, the normal continuance or unity of; interrupt:

   Telephone service was disrupted for hours.

3. to break apart:

   to disrupt a connection.

4. Business. to radically change (an industry, business strategy, etc.), as by introducing a new product or service that creates a new market:

   It’s time to disrupt your old business model.

adjective

1. broken apart; disrupted.

disrupt

/ dɪsˈrʌpt /

verb

1. tr to throw into turmoil or disorder
2. tr to interrupt the progress of (a movement, meeting, etc)
3. to break or split (something) apart

Derived Forms

• disˈruption, noun
• disˈrupter, noun

Other Words From

• dis·rupter dis·ruptor noun
• nondis·rupting adjective
• nondis·rupting·ly adverb
• undis·rupted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disrupt¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin disruptus, variant of dīruptus “broken apart,” past participle of dīrumpere “to break apart,” from dī- di- ² + rumpere “to break”

Word History and Origins

Origin of disrupt¹

C17: from Latin disruptus burst asunder, from dīrumpere to dash to pieces, from dis- ¹+ rumpere to burst

Example Sentences

The next year, the pandemic came, disrupting sports and lives everywhere.

From Los Angeles Times

What they talk about instead is a much more modest ambition of making it harder to cross borders without the right paperwork, reducing the number who do so and disrupting the people smugglers.

From BBC

Since at least the early 20th century, the rhetoric behind the afforestation push in Israel/Palestine has implied that no existing human settlements or agriculture his been displaced or disrupted.

From Salon

He acknowledged that stopping people-smuggling gangs was "an incredibly complex and challenging problem" but said he was aiming to disrupt their business models.

From BBC

Transport for Wales said 13% of its services had been disrupted due to severe weather.

From BBC

Related Words

• breach
• break into
• obstruct