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disturb
/dɪˈstɜːrb/
interrupt peace or activity
Please do not disturb me while I am working.
Do not interrupt my focus or peace.
general
To interrupt someone's sleep, rest, or concentration.
The loud noise disturbed my sleep.
The noise woke me up or prevented deep rest.
Commonly used with 'sleep', 'rest', or 'concentration'.
general
To move something from its place or position.
Try not to disturb the dust on the shelves.
Avoid moving the dust or changing its arrangement.
Often used in negative imperatives ('do not disturb').
general
To cause anxiety or upset feelings.
The news disturbed her deeply.
The news caused her significant emotional unease.
Implies a negative emotional impact.
Collocations
do not disturba sign or request to not interruptdeeply disturbedvery emotionally upsetdisturb the peacecreate noise or disorder in a public place
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Polite Interruptions
Use 'disturb' when asking for permission to interrupt: 'May I disturb you for a moment?' It is more polite than 'Can I bother you?'
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Distinguish between physical interruption (disturb sleep) and emotional impact (disturbed by news).
Word Origin
From Latin disturbare, from dis- (apart) + turbare (to throw into confusion).
Usage Notes
Often used in the imperative negative 'Do not disturb' (DND) in hotels or offices. It is more formal than 'bother' but less severe than 'disrupt' in casual contexts.
Word Breakdown
dis-
apart, away
prefixturb
to stir, confuse
rootEnglish Dictionary