disrupt

Everyday

1. To stop something from going on normally by causing trouble, noise or problems. tree →
2. To change the way something works in a big, new way, such as a new invention disrupting an industry. tree →

In the lessons

In school, behaviour that disrupts the lesson stops others learning. In everyday life and news, snow, strikes and roadworks disrupt travel; storms disrupt power. Phrases: «disrupt the class», «disrupt travel», «disrupt sleep», «be disrupted by».

Examples

• Please don't disrupt the lesson by talking. tree →
• Heavy snow disrupted the trains. tree →
• The noisy neighbours disrupted our sleep. tree →
• The fire alarm disrupted the assembly. tree →
• Floods disrupted the delivery of food. tree →
• Phones can disrupt your homework time. tree →
• (formal) Services may be disrupted due to engineering works. tree →

Note

Noun: «disruption»; adjective: «disruptive» (a disruptive pupil). Spelled with -rupt (meaning break, as in «erupt», «interrupt»).