disturbed

UK: /dɪˈstɜː^rbd/ US: /dɪˈstɝbd/ ,(di stûrbd′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•turbed /dɪˈstɜrbd/  adj. 

1. mentally or emotionally unsettled or upset:
   The emotionally disturbed child needs special care.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•turbed  (di stûrbd′), adj. 

1. Psychiatry marked by symptoms of mental illness:
   a disturbed personality.
2. agitated or distressed;
   disrupted:
   disturbed seas; a disturbed situation.

n. 

3. (used with a pl. v.) persons who exhibit symptoms of neurosis or psychosis (usually prec. by the).

• disturb + -ed² 1585–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

disturbed / dɪˈstɜːbd/ adjective

1. emotionally or psychologically troubled

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•turb /dɪˈstɜrb/   v. [ ~ + obj]

1. to interrupt the quiet, rest, or peace of;
   bother:
   She'll be angry if you disturb her while she's in conference.
2. to interfere with;
   interrupt;
   hinder:
   Only bad weather can disturb our plans for the picnic.
3. to interfere with the arrangement or order of: disarrange:
   to disturb the papers on a desk.
4. to perplex;
   trouble;
   cause worry:
   The sudden increase in thefts in the school disturbed the parents.

See -turb-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•turb  (di stûrb′), v.t. 

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

v.i. 

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

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

dis•turb′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. bother, annoy, trouble, pester.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

disturb / dɪˈstɜːb/ verb (transitive)

1. to intrude on; interrupt
2. to destroy or interrupt the quietness or peace of
3. to disarrange; muddle
4. (often passive) to upset or agitate; trouble
5. to inconvenience; put out

Etymology: 13th Century: from Latin disturbāre, from dis-¹ + turbāre to confuse

disˈturber noun