- 1[uncountable, countable, usually singular] actions that make you stop what you are doing, or that upset the normal state that something is in; the act of disturbing someone or something or the fact of being disturbed The building work is creating constant noise, dust and disturbance. a disturbance in the usual pattern of events the disturbance of the local wildlife by tourists
- 2[countable] a situation in which people behave violently in a public place serious disturbances in the streets He was charged with causing a disturbance after the game.
- 3[uncountable, countable] a state in which someone's mind or a function of the body is upset and not working normally emotional disturbance
Check pronunciation: disturbance