Meaning
- Disturb means to interrupt, bother, or interfere with someone or something, often causing annoyance, worry, or a break in peace and order.
Grammar and Usage
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Part of speech: Verb (transitive).
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Forms: disturb – disturbs – disturbing – disturbed.
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Patterns:
- disturb + object (e.g., The noise disturbed the students.)
- disturb + from + action (e.g., She was disturbed from her sleep.)
Common Phrases
- Don’t disturb – often used as a warning or on signs (e.g., in hotels).
- Deeply disturbed – describes someone mentally troubled.
- Disturb the peace – a legal or formal phrase for disrupting public order.
- Disturbing image/news – something upsetting or unsettling.
Collocations
- disturb sleep
- disturb someone’s concentration
- disturb the peace
- disturb the balance
- disturb a meeting
Examples
- Please do not disturb me while I’m studying.
- The loud construction noise disturbed the neighbors.
- I was disturbed by the news of the accident.
- He didn’t want to disturb her peaceful rest.
- The teacher’s sudden question disturbed the class’s silence.
- Pollution can disturb the natural balance of the ecosystem.
- She looked disturbed after reading the letter.
- The dog barked and disturbed everyone in the house.
Synonyms or Related
- bother
- interrupt
- trouble
- upset
- disrupt
Antonym
- calm
- soothe
- comfort
- settle