Cool MateDisturb vs Intrude
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Disturb
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Intrude
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Disturb
| Disturb | Intrude | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈstɜːb/","/dɪˈstɜːbz/","/dɪˈstɜːbd/","/dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈstɜːrb/","/dɪˈstɜːrbz/","/dɪˈstɜːrbd/","/dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪnˈtruːd//🇺🇸 //ɪnˈtrud// |
| Meaning | to interrupt or bother someone | To enter a place or situation where you are not wanted. |
| Example | Please do not disturb me while I am working on this project. | He didn't mean to intrude, but he overheard their conversation. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | disturb the peace, disturb someone, disturb the flow | intrude on someone's space, intrude into someone's life, intrude upon privacy, intrude in a conversation, intrude into a situation |
| Antonyms | calm, soothe, pacify | respect, avoid, leave alone |
| Common mistakes | Confuse with 'interrupt' – they are similar but not the same., Use 'disturb' with 'to' – it's used directly with an object (e.g., disturb her, not disturb to her). | Used incorrectly as 'intrusion' instead of 'intrude'., Confusing 'intrude' with 'interrupt'., Omitting the preposition 'on' or 'upon' after 'intrude'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'disturb' when someone is interrupted. It can sound rude if you say it while someone is working or focusing. | Use 'intrude' when discussing unwanted entry or disruption, typically in social or private contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Disturb vs Intrude
What's the difference between Disturb and Intrude?
Disturb: to interrupt or bother someone Intrude: To enter a place or situation where you are not wanted.
Which is more common: Disturb and Intrude?
Disturb is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Disturb: Please do not disturb me while I am working on this project. Intrude: He didn't mean to intrude, but he overheard their conversation.
Can I use Disturb and Intrude interchangeably?
Not always. Disturb and Intrude are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.