# disturbance

/dɪˈstɝbəns/ (US) · /dɪstˈɜːbəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disturbance
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. noise or trouble

noun · CEFR B2

a noisy situation or a fight that happens in public.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. an interruption

noun · CEFR B2

the act of stopping someone from concentrating or stopping a process from working normally.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. mental health

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

a medical condition where the mind or body does not work in a healthy way.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The loud music was a major disturbance to my sleep.
- The hospital staff worked quickly to minimize any disturbance to the patients during the renovation of the wing.
- The study examines how chronic sleep disturbance correlates with the development of mood disorders and cognitive decline in elderly populations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.