Disturbance Meaning
/dɪˈstɜː.bəns/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe act of disturbing, being disturbed.
nounSomething that disturbs.
Sentence Examples
The police intervened in the disturbance.
The police arrested Tom after responding to reports of a disturbance at his home.
I'm afraid that I've caused a slight disturbance.
CEFR Practice Quiz
A minor ____ in the courtroom caused the judge to call for order.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police intervened in the ____.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English disturbaunce, from Old French destorbance, destourbance, from destourber (“disturb”), from Latin disturbō. By surface analysis, disturb + -ance.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force."
— 2012 January 26, Donald Worster, “A Drier and Hotter Future”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2012, page 70:
"Blue No. 1 and yellow No. 6 may also be toxic to some human cells. And as little as 1 milligram of yellow dye No. 5 may cause irritability, restlessness and sleep disturbances for sensitive children."
— 2025 March 29, Kristen Rogers, “Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here’s what you can do now”, in CNN:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A minor ____ in the courtroom caused the judge to call for order.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police intervened in the ____.