disturb Hear it!

disturb Definition

dis·turb (di stʉrb′)

transitive verb

  1. to break up the quiet or serenity of; agitate (what is quiet or still)
  2. to upset mentally or emotionally; make uneasy or anxious
  3. to break up the settled order or orderly working of to disturb the books on a shelf
  4. to break in on; interrupt
  5. to inconvenience don't disturb yourself

Etymology: ME distourben < OFr distourber < L disturbare, to drive asunder < dis-, intens. + turbare, to disorder < turba, a crowd, mob: see turbid

disturb Related Forms

dis·turb′er noun

disturb Synonyms

disturb

v.

  1. To upset physical relationship

    disorder, displace, disrupt; see confuse.

  2. To upset mental calm

    trouble, worry, upset, agitate, discompose, perturb, bother, interrupt, intrude upon, inconvenience, discommode, startle, shake, give one a turn, unnerve, unsettle, disconcert, perplex, rattle, alarm, excite, arouse, affright, affect one's mind, badger, plague, vex, outrage, grieve, depress, distress, dishearten, irk, ail, provoke, afflict, irritate, pain, make uneasy, concern, disquiet, harass, exasperate, pique, gall, displease, fluster, ruffle, shake up*, throw*, put out*, flip out*, freak out*; see also bother 2, 3, confuse.

    Antonyms quiet*, calm*, soothe.

disturb implies the unsettling of normal mental calm or powers of concentration as by worry, interruption, or interference to disturb one's train of thought; discompose implies the upsetting of one's self-possession her sudden outburst discomposed him; to perturb is to cause to have a troubled or alarmed feeling the bad news perturbed him; agitate suggests the arousal of intense mental or emotional excitement he was so agitated, he could not answer

disturb Usage Examples

Object

  • tranquility: Nowadays, only sheep and the occasional railroad rambler disturb the tranquility of this remote spot.
  • equilibrium: There was the odd disruptive element that disturbed the everyday equilibrium of the majority.
  • badger: How do I go about getting a license to disturb a badger set?
  • slumber: I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
  • asbestos: Anyone who uses your premises, and who disturbs asbestos that has deteriorated or been damaged and releases fibers, can be at risk.
  • peace: A rather striking scene disturbed the peace of a certain Sunday sometime in 1623 or 1624.

Subject

  • noise: I am disturbed by noise from my neighbor, what can I do?
  • arrival: At around midnight, we were rather suddenly and rudely disturbed by the late arrival of new neighbors.
  • alarm: Do you like being disturbed by a burglar alarm going off for no apparent reason?

Modifying Another Word

  • emotionally: They were labeled ' emotionally disturbed adolescents ' which is perhaps an oxymoron, they seemed normal to me.
  • mentally: Mentally disturbed - A very small group of people have a mental disorder which compels them to steal.
  • psychologically: Although the treatment of weight problems is in the realm of psychological therapy, overweight people are not necessarily psychologically disturbed.
  • deeply: He added: " I am deeply disturbed about climate change.
  • behaviourally: Barbara Dockar-Drysdale was one of the most influential and respected workers with emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children in Britain.
  • rudely: He could thus have avoided the driver's suspected heart attack on being rudely disturbed.

Used with why or when

when: I should send an email to A&M and ask them if it's possible from the sticks to get aggressive when disturbed when nesting.

Present participle complement

nest: Please keep to the footpaths and do not allow dogs to disturb nesting birds.

Preposition: by

  • noise: I am disturbed by noise from my neighbor, what can I do?
  • arrival: At around midnight, we were rather suddenly and rudely disturbed by the late arrival of new neighbors.
  • alarm: Do you like being disturbed by a burglar alarm going off for no apparent reason?