Word
disrupt
Meanings
to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing normally
to cause disorder by disturbing a meeting, class, or event
Definition
To disrupt something is to interrupt its normal progress or operation.
To disrupt means to break the flow of an activity, system, or situation so it cannot continue normally. It often suggests an unexpected interruption that causes delay, confusion, or disorder. People can disrupt events, and problems can disrupt plans or services.
Examples
- Heavy snowfall can disrupt flights across the region, even when airports are well prepared.
- I didn’t mean to disrupt the discussion, but I needed to clarify one crucial detail.
- A single heckler tried to disrupt the lecture, yet the speaker stayed calm and continued.
- They feared that a cyberattack could disrupt essential services during the busiest hours.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "disrupt" with "interrupt" and forget that "disrupt" implies causing disorder or stopping normal functioning, not just pausing briefly.
More at C1 level
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More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.