disrupt

[ dis-ruhpt ]
See synonyms for: disruptdisrupteddisruptingdisrupter on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to break apart: to disrupt a connection.

  2. 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.

Origin of disrupt

1
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”

Other words from disrupt

  • dis·rupt·er, dis·rup·tor, noun
  • non·dis·rupt·ing, adjective
  • non·dis·rupt·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·dis·rupt·ed, adjective

Words Nearby disrupt

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use disrupt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for disrupt

disrupt

/ (dɪsˈrʌpt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to throw into turmoil or disorder

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

  1. to break or split (something) apart

Origin of disrupt

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

Derived forms of disrupt

  • disrupter or disruptor, noun
  • disruption, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012