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

The disturbance spreads outward, potentially traveling long distances before reaching the coast.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026

Neither grey nor harbour seals are protected from intentional or reckless disturbance under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

On the night of the killing, Proctor and his partner, Jonathan Kawahara, were responding to calls about Glenn and his dog causing a disturbance in Venice Beach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026

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

“Well, sir, it was about two hours after feedin’ yesterday when I first hear my disturbance.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

As the strange disturbances cause more friction between the couple, they decide to call in a medium whose podcast Lou has been listening to.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

The vehicles would be used as evidence in a police investigation that has been opened, it said, adding that forces continued to operate in the area "to prevent further disturbances and restore order".

From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026

Even pottery that enters the ground whole often cracks over the centuries as soil pressure, farming, construction, and other disturbances shift the earth around it.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

Heat often creates disturbances that make quantum systems harder to control, but under the right conditions, it could instead become a useful resource.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026

De­spite our vigilance, Dr. Atal, the zoo veterinarian, could tell by the number of animals with digestive disturbances which had been the busy days at the zoo.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Related Words

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