disturb
[verb]
Synonyms:
- interrupt, bother, butt in on, disrupt, interfere with, intrude on, pester
- upset, alarm, distress, fluster, harass, perturb, trouble, unnerve, unsettle, worry
- muddle, disarrange, disorder

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Contrasted words: establish, fix, set, settle, adjust, regulate
Related Words: alarm, frighten, scare, terrify, bewilder, distract, perplex, puzzle, discommode, incommode, inconvenience, trouble, displace, replace, move, remove, shift, interfere, intermeddle, meddle, tamper

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English Thesaurus: interrupt, butt in, cut somebody off/cut somebody short, heckle, chip in, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

dis‧turb W3 /dɪˈstɜːb $ -ɜːrb/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: disturbed ≠ undisturbed, disturbing; verb: disturb; noun: disturbance; adverb: disturbingly]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: destourber, from Latin turbare 'to put into disorder']

1. INTERRUPT to interrupt someone so that they cannot continue what they are doing:
Sorry to disturb you, but I have an urgent message.
The thieves fled when they were disturbed by a neighbour.
Do not disturb (=a sign you put on a door so that people will not interrupt you).

2. WORRY to make someone feel worried or upset:
What disturbs you most about this latest development?

3. MOVE to move something or change its position:
If you find a bird’s nest, never disturb the eggs.
I promise not to disturb anything.

4. CHANGE to change a normal situation in a way that causes problems:
My hormone balance is disturbed by my pregnancy.
New procedures often disturb the comfortable habits of the workforce.

5. disturb the peace law to behave in a noisy and unpleasant way in public

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

disturb

disturb somebody's sleep
Local people said their sleep was being disturbed by the noise from the aircraft.
disturb somebody's concentration
I couldn't work with the kids around disturbing my concentration.
disturb somebody's thoughts
A gentle knock on the door disturbed his thoughts.
sorry to disturb you spoken (=said to apologize for interrupting what someone is doing)
Sorry to disturb you, but could you sign this letter, please?

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

interrupt [intransitive and transitive] to stop someone from continuing speaking:
She interrupted him to ask exactly how he had broken his ankle.
Oliver began his story but was soon interrupted by the arrival of Mr Gosling.
I wish you wouldn’t interrupt all the time.
butt in [intransitive] to rudely start speaking when someone is already speaking:
Will you please stop butting in!
Steve kept butting in with silly comments.
cut somebody off/cut somebody short [intransitive] to prevent someone from finishing what they are saying:
He slammed down the phone and cut her off in mid-sentence.
Bob began to speak but Donna cut him short.
heckle [intransitive and transitive] to deliberately interrupt a speaker or performer by shouting, especially to show that you do not agree with what they are saying:
Comedians are used to dealing with members of the audience who heckle.
The speaker was heckled by a group of protesters.
chip in [intransitive] to interrupt a conversation or discussion by adding comments, especially helpful or useful ones:
Feel free to chip in if you have any comments to make.
disturb to interrupt someone when they are trying to work, sleep etc:
The sign on the door said ‘Do not disturb. Meeting in progress’.
I hope I’m not disturbing you. Do you want me to come back later?
Her sleep was disturbed by a violent hammering on the door.
bother to interrupt someone, especially by asking questions when they are trying to do something else:
‘I’m very sorry to bother you,’ Jackson said smoothly, ‘but I’d like a few minutes of your time.’
You mustn’t bother him - he’s working on his essay.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

interrupt [intransitive and transitive] to stop someone from continuing to do something:
Miss Danziger apologised for interrupting their enjoyment of their meal.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
His interview was interrupted by a call from the President.
disturb to interrupt someone when they are trying to work, sleep etc:
The sign on the door said ‘Do not disturb. Meeting in progress’.
I hope I’m not disturbing you. Do you want me to come back later?
Her sleep was disturbed by a violent hammering on the door.
bother to interrupt someone, especially by asking questions when they are trying to do something else:
‘I’m very sorry to bother you,’ Jackson said smoothly, ‘but I’d like a few minutes of your time.’
You mustn’t bother him - he’s working on his essay.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲