Synonyms

disrupt

American

[dis-ruhpt] / dɪsˈrʌpt /

verb (used with object)

to cause disorder or turmoil in.

The news disrupted their conference.
to destroy, usually temporarily, the normal continuance or unity of; interrupt.

Telephone service was disrupted for hours.
to break apart.

to disrupt a connection.
Business. to radically change (an industry, business strategy, etc.), as by introducing a new product or service that creates a new market.

It’s time to disrupt your old business model.

adjective

broken apart; disrupted.

disrupt British

/ dɪsˈrʌpt /

verb

(tr) to throw into turmoil or disorder
(tr) to interrupt the progress of (a movement, meeting, etc)
to break or split (something) apart

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of disrupt

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin disruptus, variant of dīruptus “broken apart,” past participle of dīrumpere “to break apart,” from dī- di- ² + rumpere “to break”

Explanation

To disrupt is to interrupt or throw something into disorder. If you don't turn your phone off before a play, it might ring and disrupt the actors and the audience. Disrupt goes back to the Latin root disrumpere, "to break apart." When you disrupt, you break someone's concentration, break up a routine, or break apart a system or order, as when bad weather disrupts the travel plans of people in airports. Even if your headphones keep the music in your ears only, singing out loud can disrupt those around you. A larger interruption would be if a war were to erupt. That would disrupt the peace of an entire region and its people.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing disrupt

Make a Break for It: Rupt

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

This Week in Words: December 9 - 15, 2017

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

President Obama's Speech to the Nation about Terrorism

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A strike that had the potential to disrupt the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

A strong El Niño would disrupt crop production, sharply driving up agricultural commodity prices.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

"They allow police to step in at an early stage to prevent harm and disrupt organisations while we investigate," he said.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

United Launch Alliance, a rocket company owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has warned that flying Starship from even one pad in the area would likely disrupt other rocket operations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

“If I disrupt the magic, can you get it back?”

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023