Disturb — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /di-ˈstərb/ dis·turb

Meaning & Definition of Disturb

Disturb (verb)

  1. to interfere with, interrupt
  2. to alter the position or arrangement of
  3. to upset the natural and especially the ecological balance or relations of

Disturb (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

    "all that talk of war disturbed us"

    similar: agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry
    related: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex, bedevil, haunt, plague, abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve
    opposite: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize
    near: allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

  2. to change the place or position of

    "the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone"

    similar: budge, dislocate, displace, move, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transpose
    related: bear, carry, cart, convey, drive, haul, lug, tote, transmit, transplant, transport, replace, supersede, supplant, alter, make over, modify, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary
    near: anchor, fix, freeze, moor, secure, set, stabilize, embed, entrench, implant, ingrain, lodge, root

  3. to undo the proper order or arrangement of

    "her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move"

    similar: confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upset
    related: embroil, entangle, snarl, tangle, agitate, perturb, stir (up), unsettle, clutter
    opposite: arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy
    near: align, line, line up, queue, classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize, adjust, fix, groom, make up, spruce (up), unscramble

  4. to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation

    "sorry to disturb you while you're working"

    similar: bother, bug, chivy, intrude (upon), pester
    related: inconvenience, trouble, aggravate, annoy, bedevil, chafe, devil, dog, dun, exasperate, fret, gall, get, gnaw, grate, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rankle, rasp, rile, roil, torment, vex, worry, beleaguer, beset, besiege, distress, plague, afflict, harass, provoke, anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, madden, outrage, agitate, perturb, butt in, cut in (on), obtrude, encroach, infringe, invade, trespass
    near: disregard, forget, ignore, leave, slight, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, oblige, placate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, comfort, console, content

  5. to cause discomfort to or trouble for

    "please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink"

    similar: discommode, disoblige, incommode, inconvenience, put out, trouble
    related: burden, encumber, saddle, weigh, fetter, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel, aggravate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, get, irk, nettle, peeve, pique, rile, vex, grate, inflame, provoke, agitate, perturb, upset
    opposite: accommodate, favor, oblige
    near: abet, aid, assist, help, ease, facilitate, smooth, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, comfort, console, content

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Disturb

The most common words with a similar meaning to Disturb:

agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry, budge, dislocate, displace, move, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transpose, confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Disturb

Words with the opposite meaning of Disturb:

calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize, arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy, accommodate, favor, oblige

Related Words for Disturb

aggravate, anger, annoy, chafe, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, put off, rile, vex, bedevil, haunt, plague, abash, confound, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster

Near Antonyms of Disturb

allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, anchor, fix, freeze, moor, secure, set, stabilize, embed, entrench, implant, ingrain, lodge, root, align, line, line up, queue, classify, codify, methodize, systematize

Word Forms of Disturb

Inflections: disturbed, disturbing, disturbs

Derived words: disturber (noun), disturbingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Disturb

Middle English disturben, destourben, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French destorber, from Latin disturbare, from dis- + turbare to throw into disorder, from turba disorder turbid

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Disturb

Words & Phrases Containing Disturb

disturb the peace

Frequently Asked Questions about Disturb

What does "Disturb" mean?

"Disturb" means to interfere with, interrupt. As a verb, it is defined as: to interfere with, interrupt. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Disturb"?

Other words for "Disturb" include agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort and discompose. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Disturb" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Disturb"?

There are 187 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Disturb". Common alternatives include agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay and disquiet.

What is the opposite of "Disturb"?

Antonyms of "Disturb" include calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize, arrange and array. Near antonyms include allay, alleviate, assuage and appease.

How do you use "Disturb" in a sentence?

Examples of "Disturb" in a sentence: "all that talk of war disturbed us"; "the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone"; "her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move".

Is "Disturb" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Disturb" is a verb.

Is "Disturb" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Disturb" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Disturb"?

"Disturb" is pronounced /di-ˈstərb/ and divided into syllables as dis·turb.