disturb

[ dih-sturb ]

verb (used with object)

1. to interrupt the quiet, rest, peace, or order of; unsettle.

   Synonyms: pester, trouble, annoy, bother

2. to interfere with; interrupt; hinder:

   Please do not disturb me when I'm working.

3. to interfere with the arrangement, order, or harmony of; disarrange:

   to disturb the papers on her desk.

4. to perplex; trouble:

   to be disturbed by strange behavior.

verb (used without object)

1. to cause disturbance to someone's sleep, rest, etc.:

   Do not disturb.

disturb

/ dɪˈstɜːb /

verb

1. to intrude on; interrupt
2. to destroy or interrupt the quietness or peace of
3. to disarrange; muddle
4. often passive to upset or agitate; trouble

   I am disturbed at your bad news

5. to inconvenience; put out

   don't disturb yourself on my account

Derived Forms

• disˈturber, noun

Other Words From

• dis·turber noun
• predis·turb verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of disturb¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English distorben, distourben, disturben, from Anglo-French desturber, disto(u)rber, from Latin disturbāre “to demolish, upset,” from dis- dis- ¹ + turbāre “to agitate, confuse” ( turbid )

Word History and Origins

Origin of disturb¹

C13: from Latin disturbāre, from dis- ¹+ turbāre to confuse

Example Sentences

At some point, it got disturbed and fell inward toward the sun.

From Nautilus

PTIs can conduct light waves on their surface and edges rather than having them run through the material, and allow light to be redirected around corners without disturbing its flow.

From Singularity Hub 

The onset of the pandemic, however, has disturbed this uneasy balance.

From MIT Technology Review

Major publications such as The New York Times and rights groups like Amnesty International echoed her disturbing eye-witness account.

From Ozy

Most of the 352 pits and other intentionally disturbed areas in La Mina contain remnants of ochre deposits, the researchers say.

From Science News

They knew they might see things that will disturb them, but could not deter them from their duty.

From The Daily Beast

I disturb their efforts to get their children and the few clothes they have with them clean using hoses and battered buckets.

From The Daily Beast

Understanding that isolation is the one thing that would absolutely disturb me.

From The Daily Beast

He is carrying the briefcase as he enters the room, so still even in walking that he does not disturb the air around him.

From The Daily Beast

The house is eerily pristine and immaculately preserved; your visit is the only thing threatening to disturb it.

From The Daily Beast

As small letters weary the eye most, so also the smallest affairs disturb us most.

From Project Gutenberg

It was like a dream of beauty suspended in the air before you—floating there—and you didn't want to disturb it.

From Project Gutenberg

It was lying sound asleep on a mud-bank, not dreaming, doubtless, of the daring bipeds who were about to disturb its repose.

From Project Gutenberg

During the first few years of my service on the County Down little occurred to disturb the even tenor of my way.

From Project Gutenberg

The flounces were so full and fluffy that he held his knees back nervously lest he should disturb a puff.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agitate
• alarm
• amaze
• annoy
• arouse
• astound
• complicate
• confuse
• depress
• dishearten
• disrupt
• distract
• excite
• frighten
• gall
• interrupt
• irk
• irritate
• outrage
• perplex