Word
disturb
Phoneticsdis·turb, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈstɝb/
UK/dɪstˈɜːb/
Definitions
01to interrupt someone
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to interrupt someone when they are busy, sleeping, or need to be alone.
v. to interrupt a person's rest, privacy, or concentration. Transitive — takes a direct object.
日本語:邪魔する※
“Please do not disturb the baby while she is taking her nap.”
“The sign on the door requested that guests not disturb the meeting while the final negotiations were in progress.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice or as a polite request.
Antonyms
02to move or change something
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to move something from its usual position or to change a quiet situation.
v. to interfere with the settled state or position of something. Transitive — takes a direct object.
日本語:乱す※
“The archaeologists were careful not to disturb the ancient bones in the grave.”
“Even a slight breeze can disturb the surface of the lake, ruining the perfect reflection of the mountains.”
Usage
Commonly used in scientific or technical contexts regarding physical states.
03to make someone worried
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make someone feel worried, upset, or uncomfortable.
v. to cause emotional distress or mental unease. Transitive — takes a direct object.
日本語:動揺する※
“The news about the accident disturbed her deeply for the rest of the day.”
“The graphic nature of the documentary disturbed many viewers, leading to several formal complaints to the network.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “disturb” in context.
Verb
01. disturb the balance
“Adding too many chemicals can disturb the delicate balance of the ecosystem.”
verb + noun
02. disturb the peace
“The neighbors were arrested for disturbing the peace late at night.”
verb + noun
03. disturb the soil
“Be careful not to disturb the soil around the new plants.”
verb + noun
04. try not to disturb
“I will try not to disturb you while you are studying for your exams.”
verb + infinitive
Adverb
05. deeply disturb
“The graphic images in the documentary deeply disturbed the audience.”
adv + verb
06. hardly disturb
“The light rain hardly disturbed the players on the field.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Andrew and Stevi Groetsch live less than a mile from the site and say the noise has woken them in the middle of the night and often disturbs bedtime stories with their kids.” “One simple way to quiet those interruptions is to put up a digital Do Not Disturb sign.” “But for that you get a machine which is less likely to disturb the peace.” Etymology
From Middle English destourben, from Anglo-Norman distourber and Old French destorber, from Latin disturbare, intensifying for turbare (“to throw into disorder”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)twerH-, (s)turH- (“to rotate, swirl, twirl, move around”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/disturb
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0