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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Disturb: Meaning, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：interrupt (disturb)

disturb 🔊

/dɪˈstɜːrb/

To interrupt someone when they are trying to be quiet, rest, or concentrate on something.

interrupt 🔊

➕

/ˌɪntəˈrʌpt/

To break the quiet, rest, or concentration of someone by making noise or causing distraction.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin dis- (apart) + turbare (to agitate).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'dis' (away) + 'turb' (like a turbine) — a spinning disruption that breaks peace.

📖 Example

Please don't disturb your brother; he's studying for his final exam. 🔊 Please don't disturb your brother; he's studying for his final exam.

🔗 Collocations

disturb the peace – to break the public order or quiet atmosphere

disturb someone's sleep – to interrupt someone's rest

disturb the balance – to disrupt the equilibrium of a system

🔄 Synonyms

bother (v.) – to cause trouble or annoyance by interfering

interrupt (v.) – to stop someone from speaking or acting by breaking in

disrupt (v.) – to prevent something from continuing normally

🚫 Antonyms

calm (v.) – to make someone quiet or peaceful

soothe (v.) – to relieve distress or agitation

leave alone (phrase) – to not interfere or disturb

🌱 Derivatives

disturbance (n.) – an interruption or disruption of peace

disturbed (adj.) – feeling or showing signs of mental or emotional upset

disturbing (adj.) – causing worry or anxiety

📖 Cultural Story

From Latin 'disturbare' (dis- + turbare). Originally meant 'to agitate', now used for interrupting focus or causing anxiety.

Meaning 2：upset (disturb)

disturb 🔊

/dɪˈstɜːrb/

To make someone feel worried, upset, or anxious because of something they saw, heard, or thought about.

upset 🔊

➕

/ʌpˈset/

To cause someone to feel worried, anxious, or emotionally shaken by something unpleasant.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The news about the forest fire deeply disturbed the environmentalists. 🔊 The news about the forest fire deeply disturbed the environmentalists.

🔗 Collocations

deeply disturbed – very upset or troubled emotionally

disturbing news – information that causes worry or distress

disturb one's peace of mind – to upset someone's calm mental state

🔄 Synonyms

upset (v.) – to make someone unhappy or worried

distress (v.) – to cause extreme anxiety or pain

trouble (v.) – to cause worry or discomfort

🚫 Antonyms

comfort (v.) – to soothe or calm someone

reassure (v.) – to restore confidence or remove fear

calm (v.) – to make someone peaceful or relaxed

🌱 Derivatives

disturbance (n.) – a state of emotional upset or interruption

disturbed (adj.) – emotionally troubled or unsettled

disturbing (adj.) – causing emotional discomfort or anxiety