DEFINITIONS
The
2019 WORD
OF THE YEAR is...

disturbing

[ dih-stur-bing ]
/ dɪˈstɜr bɪŋ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR disturbing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

upsetting or disquieting; dismaying: a disturbing increase in the crime rate.

Words related to disturbing

troublesome, embarrassing, annoying, worrisome, distressing, startling, unsettling, alarming, threatening, discouraging, unpleasant, painful, perplexing, upsetting, depressing, ominous, frightening, irritating, sinister, creepy

Words nearby disturbing

distrust, distrustful, disturb, disturbance, disturbed, disturbing, disty., distyle, disubstituted, disulfate, disulfide

Origin of disturbing

First recorded in 1585–95; disturb + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM disturbing

dis·turb·ing·ly, adverbnon·dis·turb·ing, adjectiveun·dis·turb·ing, adjectiveun·dis·turb·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for disturbing (2 of 2)

disturb
[ dih-sturb ]
/ dɪˈstɜrb /

verb (used with object)

to interrupt the quiet, rest, peace, or order of; unsettle.
to interfere with; interrupt; hinder: Please do not disturb me when I'm working.
to interfere with the arrangement, order, or harmony of; disarrange: to disturb the papers on her desk.
to perplex; trouble: to be disturbed by strange behavior.

verb (used without object)

to cause disturbance to someone's sleep, rest, etc.: Do not disturb.

Origin of disturb

1175–1225; Middle English disto(u)rben, disturben < Anglo-French disto(u)rber, desturber < Latin disturbāre to demolish, upset, equivalent to dis- dis-1 + turbāre to confuse

OTHER WORDS FROM disturb

dis·turb·er, nounpre·dis·turb, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for disturbing

British Dictionary definitions for disturbing (1 of 2)

disturbing
/ (dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ) /

adjective

tending to upset or agitate; troubling; worrying

Derived forms of disturbing

disturbingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for disturbing (2 of 2)

disturb
/ (dɪˈstɜːb) /

verb (tr)

to intrude on; interrupt
to destroy or interrupt the quietness or peace of
to disarrange; muddle
(often passive) to upset or agitate; troubleI am disturbed at your bad news
to inconvenience; put outdon't disturb yourself on my account

Derived forms of disturb

disturber, noun

Word Origin for disturb

C13: from Latin disturbāre, from dis- 1 + turbāre to confuse
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