disturb

/dəˈstʌrb/

/dɪsˈtʌb/

Other forms: disturbed; disturbing; disturbs

To disturb is to bother. If you hang a "Do not disturb" sign on the outside of your hotel room door, you want to be left alone.

Disturb comes from the Latin prefix dis-, meaning "completely" and turbare, meaning "to disorder." To disturb is, in a sense, to completely disorder. When you disturb something, you interfere with its normal function. Along those lines, it's also a word used to describe the interruption of sleep or relaxation. Your alarm disturbs you from sleep every morning. When something disturbs you, it can also cause you emotional anxiety. A horror movie might disturb you with its goriness.

Definitions of disturb

1. verb

   move deeply
   synonyms: trouble, upset

   types:

   agitate, charge, charge up, commove, excite, rouse, turn on

   cause to be agitated, excited, or roused

   jolt

   disturb (someone's) composure

   cark, disorder, disquiet, distract, perturb, trouble, unhinge

   disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

   distress

   cause mental pain to

   hype up, psych up

   get excited or stimulated

   vex, worry

   disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress

   bother

   make nervous or agitated

   besiege

   cause to feel distressed or worried

   pother

   make upset or troubled

   electrify

   excite suddenly and intensely

   type of:

   affect, impress, move, strike

   have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
2. verb

   tamper with
   synonyms: touch

   types:

   upset

   disturb the balance or stability of

   violate

   destroy

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
3. verb

   change the arrangement or position of
   synonyms: agitate, commove, raise up, shake up, stir up, vex

   types:

   beat, scramble

   stir vigorously

   toss

   agitate

   rile, roil

   make turbid by stirring up the sediments of

   poke

   stir by poking

   tumble

   put clothes in a tumbling barrel, where they are whirled about in hot air, usually with the purpose of drying

   whip, whisk

   whip with or as if with a wire whisk

   cream

   make creamy by beating

   muddle, puddle

   make into a puddle

   type of:

   displace, move

   cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense
4. verb

   destroy the peace or tranquility of
   synonyms: interrupt

   type of:

   act, move

   perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
5. verb

   damage as if by shaking or jarring
   “Don't disturb the patient's wounds by moving him too rapidly!”

   type of:

   damage

   inflict damage upon