INDEX:
1. to disturb someone so that they cannot continue what they are doing
2. to disturb a situation or event
RELATED WORDS
to say something when someone else is talking : ↑ INTERRUPT
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1. to disturb someone so that they cannot continue what they are doing
▷ disturb /dɪˈstɜːʳb/ [transitive verb]
to stop someone when they are working, talking, or having a meeting, especially because you want to ask a question or tell them something :
▪ Sorry to disturb you, but could I ask a quick question?
▪ Try not to disturb your dad - he’s working.
▪ Before closing the door to his office, he told his secretary that he was not to be disturbed.
▷ interrupt /ˌɪntəˈrʌpt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to stop someone when they are working, talking, or having a meeting, especially because you want to ask them a question or tell them something :
▪ Don’t interrupt - I haven’t finished yet.
▪ I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting, but may I speak with Michael for a moment?
▪ While I was giving my report, some guy in the back kept interrupting me every two minutes.
interruption /ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
when someone interrupts you: :
▪ It’s hard to study with so many interruptions.
▷ bother /ˈbɒðəʳǁˈbɑː-/ [transitive verb]
to disturb someone who is doing something, especially in a way that is annoying :
▪ Will you stop bothering me? I’m trying to watch a program.
▪ Sorry to bother you, but could you help me one more time with the copier?
▪ Don’t bother Ellen while she’s reading.
▷ distract /dɪˈstrækt/ [transitive verb]
to stop someone who is trying to work, study, or read, by making them look at or listen to something else :
▪ Don’t distract your father while he’s driving.
▪ The couple behind us kept distracting everyone by talking during the movie.
▪ I was distracted by the sound of a car alarm in the street.
▷ put somebody off /ˌpʊt somebody ˈɒf/ [transitive phrasal verb] British
to make it difficult for someone to do something, by preventing them from paying attention and thinking clearly about what they are doing :
▪ Seles couldn’t concentrate on the game - the photographers were putting her off.
▷ break somebody’s train of thought /ˌbreɪk somebodyˈs ˌtreɪn əv ˈθɔːt/ [verb phrase]
to disturb someone so that they forget what they were thinking about :
▪ The phone rang, breaking my train of thought.
▪ I sat very still, not wanting to break her train of thought.
2. to disturb a situation or event
▷ disrupt /dɪsˈrʌpt/ [transitive verb]
to disturb a situation, system, event etc, so that it cannot happen or work in its usual way :
▪ The aim of the strike was to disrupt rail services as much as possible.
▪ The protest disrupted the Democratic convention Saturday, nearly forcing its cancellation.
▪ Moving schools frequently can disrupt a child’s education.
▪ Hecklers repeatedly disrupted Duke’s news conference, calling him a liar and a fascist.
disruption /dɪsˈrʌpʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
▪ The storm has caused serious disruption to road and rail travel.
▷ upset /ʌpˈset/ [transitive verb]
to disturb a plan, situation, relationship etc, especially so that people feel confused or angry :
▪ Young children don’t like anything which upsets their daily routine.
▪ The closing of the plant threatens to upset the local economy.
▪ Rowan said this latest outbreak of violence could upset the peace talks.
▷ break up /ˌbreɪk ˈʌp/ [transitive phrasal verb]
break up a meeting/demonstration/march etc
deliberately disturb it or prevent it from continuing, especially in a violent way :
break up something
▪ Police broke up the demonstration with tear gas.
▪ The conference was broken up by animal rights campaigners.
break something up
▪ Breaking meetings up and harassing party members are just some of the tactics our opponents have used.
▷ disturb /dɪˈstɜːʳb/ [transitive verb]
to disturb an organized event or a peaceful situation, for example by making a lot of noise or arguing with someone :
▪ Loud frogs are disturbing the sleep of local home owners.
▪ It is thought that the intruder was disturbed by a barking dog.