disrupt

American  

[dis-ruhpt] / dɪsˈrʌpt /

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.

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adjective

1. broken apart; disrupted.

disrupt British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of disrupt

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”

Example Sentences

The price of urea in Egypt, a regional benchmark, jumped 54% over the past month, as the Middle East conflict disrupted shipping.

From The Wall Street Journal

It isn’t software that is being disrupted; it’s labor.

From Barron's

When dams, altered water flows, or habitat degradation disrupt these connections, populations can drop quickly.

From Science Daily

We describe nail polish formulations that achieve sufficient conductivity to disrupt the stored electrical field in capacitive touchscreens and register as touch events.

From Science Daily

"A relatively brief closure could disrupt an entire growing season, with food security consequences that persist long after the strait reopens," according to researchers at the Kiel Institute.

From BBC

Related Words

• breach
• break into
• obstruct