disturbance

American  

[dih-stur-buhns] / dɪˈstɜr bəns /

noun

• disturbances
  plural

1. the act of disturbing.

2. the state of being disturbed.

   Synonyms:

   confusion, perturbation

3. an instance of this; commotion.

   Antonyms:

   order

4. something that disturbs.

5. an outbreak of disorder; a breach of public peace.

   Political disturbances shook the city.

   Synonyms:

   riot, tumult, confusion

6. Meteorology. any cyclonic storm or low-pressure area, usually a small one.

7. Geology. a crustal movement of moderate intensity, somewhat restricted in area.

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disturbance British  

/ dɪˈstɜːbəns /

noun

1. the act of disturbing or the state of being disturbed

2. an interruption or intrusion

3. an unruly outburst or tumult

4. law an interference with another's rights

5. geology

   1. a minor movement of the earth causing a small earthquake

   2. a minor mountain-building event

6. meteorol a small depression

7. psychiatry a mental or emotional disorder

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Synonym Usage

See agitation. See disorder.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nondisturbance
  noun
• predisturbance
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• disturbances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of disturbance

1250–1300; Middle English disto ( u ) rbance < Anglo-French, Old French. See disturb, -ance

Explanation

A disturbance is a noisy commotion that causes a hubbub or interruption. It can also be a worried mental state. In hotels, people put up "Do not disturb" signs when they want to be left alone. That's a good clue to what a disturbance is: something, usually noisy or rowdy, that bothers people. An audience member yelling during a piano concert would be a disturbance. Disturbances can also be interruptions, like a disturbance in cable service when the cable goes out. Disturbances can also be mental: if you're worried or anxious, that's a type of internal disturbance.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disturbance disturbances

Meanwhile, online communities and functional wellness doctors have connected it to symptoms ranging from emotional disturbance to heart problems.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Earlier this summer, Mangione's lawyers proposed, then quickly withdrew, an "extreme emotional disturbance" argument.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

"Drilling causes a lot of disturbance, and increased human activity would have an impact on wildlife."

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Climate change and environmental disturbance have aided an increasing creep of the territories ticks inhabit—along with the viruses, bacteria, and pathogens they carry.

From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026

Rumors continue to fly about the mysterious recent disturbance at the Ministry of Magic, during which He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was sighted once more.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

This preliminary study is the first to examine how vitamin D supplement intake relates to cognitive function specifically in a high-risk group experiencing both MCI and sleep disturbances.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

There was still a humanitarian emergency and disturbances to public order in the territory, he said, while it was "basically impossible" to return the minors who had crossed because this required their consent.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of disturbances affecting old-growth forests, including drought and extreme wildfire.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

These trees "need natural disturbances such as fires," according to the government department Environment Canada, but suffer from repeated, intense fires that prevent them from regenerating.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

When I was a kid, Mom slept in air thin and nervous as a magnetic field, attracting small disturbances.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

Related Words

• brawl
• confusion
• disorder
• disruption
• eruption
• explosion
• fracas
• interruption
• riot
• shock
• storm
• tremor
• turmoil
• upheaval
• uprising
• violence