Word
disturbance
Phoneticsdis·tur·bance, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈstɝbəns/
UK/dɪstˈɜːbəns/
Definitions
01noise or trouble
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a noisy situation or a fight that happens in public.
n. a public outbreak of disorder or a noisy commotion that interrupts peace.
“The police were called to the street to deal with a small disturbance.”
“Local residents complained about the frequent disturbances caused by the nightclub's patrons late at night.”
02an interruption
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the act of stopping someone from concentrating or stopping a process from working normally.
n. the interruption of a settled state, process, or concentration.
“I need to work in the library where there are no disturbances.”
“The construction work caused a significant disturbance to the local wildlife's nesting patterns.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03mental health
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Technical · Formal
n. a medical condition where the mind or body does not work in a healthy way.
n. a clinical interruption of normal physical or mental functions.
“The doctor noticed a slight sleep disturbance in the patient's records.”
“Early intervention is crucial when a child exhibits a persistent emotional disturbance that interferes with their education.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “disturbance” in context.
Adjective
01. emotional disturbance
“The therapist noted that the patient was suffering from a severe emotional disturbance.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of disturbances affecting old-growth forests, including drought and extreme wildfire.” “Then, when the whale dove, they could see the same sort of disturbance they’d previously observed when submarines or ships on the surface motored over the cables.” Etymology
From Middle English disturbaunce, from Old French destorbance, destourbance, from destourber (“disturb”), from Latin disturbō. By surface analysis, disturb + -ance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- 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 Intermediate
- Updated
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