A1 verb Neutral #2,669 most common

disrupt

/dɪsˈrʌpt/

To stop something from happening in the normal way or to cause a problem that interrupts a process. It is often used when an event or a system is forced to change its usual flow.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The loud construction noise will disrupt the students during their exam.

The loud construction noise will disrupt the students during their exam.

2

The unexpected storm may disrupt international flight schedules for several days.

The unexpected storm may disrupt international flight schedules for several days.

3

Don't disrupt me while I am trying to finish this level of my game.

Don't disrupt me while I am trying to finish this level of my game.

Word Family

Noun
disruption
Verb
disrupt
Adverb
disruptively
Adjective
disruptive
Related
disruptor
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Memory Tip

Think of the root 'rupt' which means 'break' (like a volcano eruption). When you disrupt something, you are breaking the normal flow.

Quick Quiz

The heavy rain will likely _______ the outdoor concert tonight.

Correct!

The correct answer is: disrupt

Examples

1

The loud construction noise will disrupt the students during their exam.

everyday

The loud construction noise will disrupt the students during their exam.

2

The unexpected storm may disrupt international flight schedules for several days.

formal

The unexpected storm may disrupt international flight schedules for several days.

3

Don't disrupt me while I am trying to finish this level of my game.

informal

Don't disrupt me while I am trying to finish this level of my game.

4

The introduction of invasive species can heavily disrupt the local ecosystem.

academic

The introduction of invasive species can heavily disrupt the local ecosystem.

5

Our company aims to disrupt the mobile industry with this new technology.

business

Our company aims to disrupt the mobile industry with this new technology.

Word Family

Noun
disruption
Verb
disrupt
Adverb
disruptively
Adjective
disruptive
Related
disruptor

Common Collocations

disrupt service disrupt service
disrupt a meeting disrupt a meeting
disrupt traffic disrupt traffic
disrupt the peace disrupt the peace
disrupt the market disrupt the market

Common Phrases

disrupt the status quo

disrupt the status quo

disruptive technology

disruptive technology

disrupt the flow

disrupt the flow

Often Confused With

disrupt vs interrupt

Interrupt is usually used for stopping a conversation or a short action, while disrupt refers to stopping a larger process or system.

disrupt vs disturb

Disturb is often about bothering someone's peace or mental state, whereas disrupt is about breaking the order of an event.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'disrupt' when you want to describe a significant break in how a system or event is supposed to work. In business, it is often used positively to describe innovation.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'disrupt' to mean 'annoy'. While related, disrupt specifically requires an action or process to be stopped or changed.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the root 'rupt' which means 'break' (like a volcano eruption). When you disrupt something, you are breaking the normal flow.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'disruptus', which means 'broken apart'.

Grammar Patterns

Transitive verb (requires a direct object) Regular verb (past tense: disrupted) Commonly used in the passive voice (e.g., 'Service was disrupted')
🌍

Cultural Context

In modern tech culture, 'disrupt' is a buzzword meaning to change an industry completely using new ideas.

Quick Quiz

The heavy rain will likely _______ the outdoor concert tonight.

Correct!

The correct answer is: disrupt

Related Words

subfactile

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To subtly manipulate or influence the underlying facts or foundational elements of a situation, often to guide an outcome without drawing attention. It describes the act of working beneath the surface to reshape how a project or narrative is constructed.

microchromtude

C1

Characterized by extremely subtle or minute variations in color that are often imperceptible without specialized equipment. It describes a state of high chromatic complexity where hues shift in very small, detailed increments.

hypersumcide

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Describing a state of systemic collapse or self-destruction caused by the excessive accumulation and aggregation of components or data. It characterizes a system that fails because the total sum of its parts has become too overwhelming to manage or sustain.

circumjugious

C1

A rare term referring to the state or quality of being joined, yoked, or bound together in a circular or encompassing fashion. It describes a structural or conceptual unity where elements are linked around a central point or perimeter.

perinascize

C1

A rare noun denoting the state, process, or environment surrounding the emergence or birth of a concept, system, or entity. It specifically refers to the transitional phase and the immediate peripheral conditions present at the very moment of a new beginning.

misdocancy

C1

The act or instance of incorrect, faulty, or negligent documentation, specifically referring to the failure to accurately record information in professional or clinical settings. It describes the state where records are inconsistent with the actual events or data they are intended to represent.

envivency

C1

To infuse a concept, artistic work, or atmosphere with a renewed sense of life, vividness, and energy. It describes the act of making something abstract feel tangible or animating a previously stagnant situation.

comheredist

C1

To systematically unify and distribute inherited elements, traditions, or data into a cohesive modern framework. It describes the active process of integrating legacy components into a functional, distributed system.

disnascy

C1

A formal term describing a state of failed or arrested emergence, where a concept, project, or entity fails to fully develop or be born. It refers to the quality of being perpetually 'almost started' but never achieving a functional or realized existence.

devolile

C1

Describing something that is subject to or characterized by the delegation of authority from a central body to a subordinate or local level. It is often used to describe legal or administrative processes where powers are transferred downward.

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