disrupt

[dis-ruhpt]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause disorder or turmoil in.

   The news disrupted their conference.

2. to destroy, usually temporarily, the normal continuance or unity of; interrupt.

   Telephone service was disrupted for hours.

3. to break apart.

   to disrupt a connection.

4. Business.,  to radically change (an industry, business strategy, etc.), as by introducing a new product or service that creates a new market.

   It’s time to disrupt your old business model.

adjective

1. broken apart; disrupted.

disrupt

/ dɪsˈrʌpt /

verb

1. (tr) to throw into turmoil or disorder

2. (tr) to interrupt the progress of (a movement, meeting, etc)

3. to break or split (something) apart

Other Word Forms

• disrupter noun
• disruptor noun
• nondisrupting adjective
• nondisruptingly adverb
• undisrupted adjective
• disruption noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disrupt¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin disruptus, variant of dīruptus “broken apart,” past participle of dīrumpere “to break apart,” from dī- di- ² + rumpere “to break”

Word History and Origins

Origin of disrupt¹

C17: from Latin disruptus burst asunder, from dīrumpere to dash to pieces, from _dis- ¹ + rumpere to burst

Example Sentences

Hollywood is grappling with the innovations in AI, which is expected to create more efficiency in production but disrupt the jobs of visual effects artists, actors, writers and other talent.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Balloons carrying thousands of packs of cigarettes have disrupted flights in Lithuania, as Vilnius Airport was forced to close for hours when dozens of them floated into the country's airspace.

Read more on BBC

That includes abolishing anything that could “delay or disrupt class instruction,” which is pretty much every protest, with or without footwear.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At Dublin Airport, about 20 of Saturday's flights have been cancelled by airlines as winds continue to disrupt some operations.

Read more on BBC

It's the latest in a series of incidents involving drones that have disrupted aviation in Europe in recent weeks.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• breach 
• break into 
• obstruct