WordGarden.iodisrupt
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪsrˈʌpt/
US
- /dɪsˈrəpt/
Meanings
Verb
to interrupt the normal course of an activity, process, or state
to radically change an industry, market, or way of working
Beyond the definition
Imagine a peaceful classroom—then someone starts loudly singing off-key. That’s disruption. To disrupt something means to interrupt it, knock it off course, or stop it from continuing as usual. It can be sudden, like a power outage disrupting a concert, or gradual, like new technology changing an old industry. Sometimes it’s negative, like a protest disrupting traffic. Other times, it’s positive, like a fresh idea shaking up the usual way of doing things and leading to progress. Think of a pebble dropped into a calm pond: one small action, then ripples spread.
To disrupt means to interrupt or interfere with something so it can’t continue normally. It suggests that the usual order has been broken—often unexpectedly and sometimes unwelcome. For example: "The storm disrupted travel plans," meaning the storm caused delays, cancellations, or reroutes.
Disruption isn’t always about physical interference. You can disrupt a routine ("Late-night noise disrupted her sleep"), a conversation ("He disrupted the meeting by talking over everyone"), or a system ("The jammer disrupted the radio signal"). In each case, something that was running smoothly gets thrown off.
The word can also refer to challenging established norms or systems. We talk about "disruptive technologies"—innovations that change how things are done and force old habits or industries to adapt, like smartphones reshaping the camera market or streaming services changing traditional television. Economists sometimes call this "creative destruction": new ways replace old ones.
The word can carry negative connotations, because disruption often brings inconvenience, confusion, or lost time. Still, it can also be a driver of progress when a new approach breaks an old pattern and makes room for something better.
You might say someone "disrupted the meeting" by constantly interrupting, or that a new policy "disrupted the company's workflow." It's important to note that disruption doesn't necessarily mean complete failure; it simply means something has been altered from its expected course.
So whether it's a sudden event, a technological shift, or a challenging idea, to disrupt is to break the pattern and introduce change—sometimes chaotic, but often necessary for growth and innovation.
Examples
- 1
Weather
The snowstorm disrupted train service all morning.
- 2
Meeting
I turned off my phone so nothing would disrupt the meeting.
- 3
Sleep
The construction work outside kept disrupting her sleep.
- 4
Weekend plans
A last-minute email disrupted my plans for the weekend.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Education
Frequent moves can disrupt a child's education.
- 6
Banking change
Online banking has disrupted the way many people manage money.
- Patterndisrupt the way + clause
cause a big change in how something is usually done
- 7
Polite interruption
Sorry to disrupt your evening, but I need your help right now.
- PhraseSorry to disrupt ...
a polite way to apologize for interrupting someone
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- derail
- destabilize
- shake up
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- disrupt service
- disrupt supply chains
- disrupt the meeting
- disrupt the market
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- disruptverb
Forms
- disruptedpast tenseverb
- disrupting-ing formverb
- disruptsverb