disturb
Americanverb (used with object)
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to interrupt the quiet, rest, peace, or order of; unsettle.
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to interfere with; interrupt; hinder.
Please do not disturb me when I'm working.
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to interfere with the arrangement, order, or harmony of; disarrange.
to disturb the papers on her desk.
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to perplex; trouble.
to be disturbed by strange behavior.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to intrude on; interrupt
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to destroy or interrupt the quietness or peace of
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to disarrange; muddle
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(often passive) to upset or agitate; trouble
I am disturbed at your bad news
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to inconvenience; put out
don't disturb yourself on my account
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have disturbedperfect
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has disturbedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been disturbingperfect progressive
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am disturbingprogressive 1st person singular
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are disturbingprogressive
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is disturbingprogressive 3rd person singular
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disturbssingular 3rd person
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has been disturbingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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disturbingparticiple
Past
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had disturbedperfect
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were disturbingprogressive plural
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disturbedparticiple
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was disturbingprogressive singular
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disturbedsimple
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had been disturbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of disturb
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English distorben, distourben, disturben, from Anglo-French desturber, disto(u)rber, from Latin disturbāre “to demolish, upset,” from dis- dis- 1 + turbāre “to agitate, confuse” ( see turbid)
Explanation
To disturb is to bother. If you hang a "Do not disturb" sign on the outside of your hotel room door, you want to be left alone. Disturb comes from the Latin prefix dis-, meaning "completely" and turbare, meaning "to disorder." To disturb is, in a sense, to completely disorder. When you disturb something, you interfere with its normal function. Along those lines, it's also a word used to describe the interruption of sleep or relaxation. Your alarm disturbs you from sleep every morning. When something disturbs you, it can also cause you emotional anxiety. A horror movie might disturb you with its goriness.
Vocabulary lists containing disturb
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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The Circuit
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"The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven"
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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.
In this world, the bizarre proclivities of one man can disturb the peace and rattle markets.
From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026
A horizontal magnetic field generated a two dimensional flow, while an array of rods was used to disturb it.
From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026
"We'd at least be able to tell them, 'there are other people who are trying to disturb you'."
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
Not even a sore toenail that required a spot of self surgery could disturb Rory McIlroy's relaxed demeanour as he bids for back to back major wins at this week's US PGA Championship in Pennsylvania.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
“Arr, matey, who dares to disturb the pirate captain’s slumber?”
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
