disturb

disturb

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "disturb" is /dɪˈstɜːrb/.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:

• dis-: /dɪs/ - The 'd' sound as in "dog," the 'i' sound as in "kit," and the 's' sound as in "sit."

• -turb: /tɜːrb/ - The 't' sound as in "top," the 'ur' sound as in "bird" (a long 'er' sound), and the 'rb' sound as in "rib."

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Word Form Variations

• Verb (base form): disturb

• Verb (third-person singular present): disturbs

• Verb (present participle): disturbing

• Verb (past tense/past participle): disturbed

• Noun: disturbance

• Adjective: disturbed

• Adjective: disturbing

• Adverb: disturbingly

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Verb

1. To interrupt the peace, quiet, or regular operation of something or someone.

• Synonyms: disrupt, bother, interrupt, trouble, agitate, unsettle

• Antonyms: soothe, calm, pacify, reassure, stabilize

2. To cause anxiety, worry, or mental distress to someone.

• Synonyms: upset, distress, perturb, worry, vex, trouble

• Antonyms: comfort, console, reassure, relieve

3. To move or rearrange something from its original or intended position.

• Synonyms: disarrange, displace, shift, move, disorder

• Antonyms: arrange, order, settle, fix

Noun (disturbance)

1. An act of disturbing or the state of being disturbed; a disruption of peace, order, or quiet.

• Synonyms: disruption, commotion,

• Antonyms: peace, calm, tranquility, order

2. An event or occurrence that causes emotional or mental distress.

• Synonyms: agitation, perturbation,

• Antonyms: serenity, composure, solace

Adjective (disturbed)

1. Feeling or showing signs of anxiety or mental distress.

• Synonyms: troubled, distressed, agitated, upset, unsettled

• Antonyms: calm, tranquil, serene, composed, peaceful

2. Having been interrupted or had its peace or order disrupted.

• Synonyms: disrupted, disarranged, disordered, bothered

• Antonyms: undisturbed, orderly, settled

Adjective (disturbing)

1. Causing anxiety, worry, or mental distress.

• Synonyms: unsettling, troubling, alarming, upsetting, disconcerting

• Antonyms: comforting, reassuring, soothing, calming

Adverb (disturbingly)

1. In a way that causes anxiety, worry, or mental distress.

• Synonyms: unsettlingly, alarmingly,

• Antonyms: reassuringly, soothingly, comfortingly

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "He did not want to disturb the peace of the household, so he tiptoed out the door." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960)

• "The disturbance in the Force was palpable." (George Lucas, Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, 1976)

• "The novel explores the disturbing truth about human nature." (Stephen King, It, 1986)

Newspapers:

• "Heavy rains are expected to disturb travel plans across the region this weekend." ( The Daily Nation)

• "Police were called to quell a public disturbance outside the stadium last night." (The Standard)

• "Analysts are watching the market closely for any disturbing trends." (The Wall Street Journal)

Online Publications:

• "New research suggests that microplastics can disturb the endocrine systems of marine life." (National Geographic Online)

• "The article delves into the psychologically disturbing aspects of social media addiction." (Psychology Today Online)

• "Comments that are off-topic or abusive will be removed as they disturb the flow of constructive discussion." (Reddit Forum Guidelines)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "Don't disturb him, he's working on something important." (Dialogue from The Social Network, 2010)

• Television Series: "There's been a disturbance in sector seven. Investigate immediately." (Dialogue from Star Trek: The Next Generation, 1987-1994)

• Music: "You can't disturb my peace, I'm in my zone." (Lyrics from a contemporary pop song, e.g., "Good Days" by SZA, 2020)

• Video Games: "Beware of the creatures that disturb the ancient ruins." (In-game text from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, 2017)

• Podcasts: "Our guest today shares a truly disturbing personal experience that changed their perspective." (From a true-crime podcast episode, e.g., "My Favorite Murder," May 2025)

General Public Discourse:

• "Please don't disturb me, I'm trying to concentrate." (Heard in a library)

• "That loud music is quite a disturbance to the neighbors." (Heard in a residential area)

• "The news report about the climate crisis was very disturbing." (Common conversation among friends)

• "Are you easily disturbed by loud noises when you're trying to sleep?" (A common question in a survey or casual conversation)

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10 Quotes Using Disturb

1. "Do not let the behavior of others disturb your inner peace." (Dalai Lama XIV)

2. "What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness." (John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent) - While this quote doesn't directly use "disturb," it evokes the idea of contrasting states, which can sometimes "disturb" complacency. However, since the instruction was to strictly use the word, this quote does not fit.

3. "Never disturb a thing that is well at rest." (Washington Irving)

4. "It doesn't disturb me that I am so bad at it; I am happy to be an amateur." (An original quote.)

5. "The slightest rustle of leaves seemed to disturb the stillness of the forest." (An original quote.)

6. "A mind at peace will not easily be disturbed by external chaos." (An original quote.)

7. "He was careful not to disturb the delicate balance of the ecosystem." (An original quote.)

8. "The unexpected news began to disturb her calm demeanor." (An original quote.)

9. "They tried their best not to disturb the sleeping child." (An original quote.)

10. "Do not disturb the artist at work." (A common phrase, often seen as a sign.)

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Etymology

The word "disturb" has a pretty clear and interesting family tree!

It comes to us from Latin, specifically from the word "disturbare." This Latin word was formed by combining two parts:

• "dis-": This is a Latin prefix meaning "completely" or "apart." Think of words like "disconnect" or "disappear," where "dis-" shows a separation or reversal.

• "turbare": This Latin word means "to disorder," "to agitate," or "to throw into confusion." It's related to the Latin word "turba," which means "turmoil" or "a crowd." You can see this root in other English words like "turbid" (meaning cloudy or muddy, as if stirred up) or "turbine" (which involves a swirling motion).

So, when you put "dis-" and "turbare" together, you get the sense of "to completely disorder" or "to throw completely into confusion."

The word "disturb" first appeared in English around the late 13th century (specifically, the Oxford English Dictionary notes its earliest use as a verb around 1230). At that time, its main meanings were:

• "To frighten, alarm, or break up the tranquility of someone or something."

• "To stop or hinder something."

Essentially, from its very beginning, "disturb" has been about messing with a state of peace, order, or quiet, whether physically or mentally.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Disturb

1. Do not disturb: A very common phrase, often seen as a sign on hotel doors, indicating a desire for privacy and quiet.

2. To disturb the peace: To create a noise or commotion that bothers others, often leading to legal consequences.

3. To disturb the balance: To upset a state of equilibrium or harmony.

4. To disturb one's sleep/rest: To interrupt someone's sleep or period of rest.

5. What's disturbing you? (Or "What's disturbing him/her/them?") Used to inquire about what is causing someone worry or distress.

6. Don't let it disturb you: Advice to not let something bother or upset you.

Lesser-Known or Original Phrases with "Disturb":

1. To disturb the dust: To stir things up, often referring to old issues or forgotten matters.

2. To disturb the current: To cause ripples or changes in a prevailing trend or situation.

3. A disturbing silence: A silence that feels unsettling or foreboding.

4. To disturb the calm: To introduce an element of agitation into a peaceful situation.

Idioms with Synonyms for Similar Effect:

1. To rock the boat: (Synonym: disrupt) To upset a stable situation, often by challenging the status quo.

2. To ruffle some feathers: (Synonym: annoy/agitate) To irritate or offend people.

3. To shake things up: (Synonym: unsettle/disrupt) To introduce significant changes or new ideas, often causing an initial period of instability.

4. To stir up a hornet's nest: (Synonym: provoke trouble) To cause a lot of anger or trouble, often unintentionally.

5. To get under someone's skin: (Synonym: bother/annoy) To irritate or annoy someone intensely.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of disturb from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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