[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/disturb.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / disturb

[← D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/D/)

# disturb

«disturb» in Mova's school dictionary: **to interrupt them when they are busy, resting or sleeping** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (disturb, disturbs, disturbed, disturbing)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To disturb someone means to interrupt them when they are busy, resting or sleeping. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#m1)

2) To disturb something means to move it or change its position or order. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#m2)

3) To disturb someone can mean to make them worried or upset. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#m3)

4) Disturbing describes something that makes you upset or uneasy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#m4)

5) To disturb yourself means to get up or bother yourself to do something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#m5)

### sense in the lessons

Everyday and manners: «Do not disturb» signs on doors; knock and wait if someone is busy; be quiet in the library so you don't disturb others. In nature and safety: do not disturb nesting birds, wild animals or rock pool creatures, and put rocks back where you found them. In stories a disturbing event shows something is wrong. Phrases: «sorry to disturb you», «do not disturb», «disturb the peace».

### examples

- Sorry to disturb you, but may I ask a question? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x1)
- Please don't disturb the baby; she's asleep. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x2)
- The sign on the door said «Do not disturb». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x3)
- Don't disturb birds when they are nesting. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x4)
- Put the rock back gently so you don't disturb the crabs. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x5)
- The noise from the road disturbed my sleep. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x6)
- The film had some disturbing scenes. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x7)
- Someone had disturbed the papers on my desk. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x8)
- Nothing disturbs the peaceful sleep of the dead. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/#x9)

### note

Past: «disturbed». Noun: «disturbance». Adjectives: «disturbed» (upset) and «disturbing» (upsetting). «Disturb» ends in «-urb» like «suburb».

### In the corpora

- [In Kenya, hornbills and dwarf mongooses team up: the birds catch insects the mongooses disturb and call out warnings of hawks.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/126-the-lion-king-hyenas-rafiki-and-zazu/15/)
- [Stink bugs release bad-smelling chemicals when disturbed, and smells work well as defences because predators learn quickly.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/248-defences-skunks-porcupines-hedgehogs-and-armour/12/)
- [Never disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping, chewing a toy or looking after puppies.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/22-meeting-a-dog-safely/12/)
- [Disturbing a nest makes wasps or bees attack in large numbers.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/24-bees-and-wasps/21/)
- [It is against the law in many countries to disturb the nests of wild birds or take their eggs.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/29-germs-from-animals/18/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «disturb» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disturb/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.