Cool MateDisturb vs Worry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Disturb
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Worry
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
| Disturb | Worry | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈstɜːb/","/dɪˈstɜːbz/","/dɪˈstɜːbd/","/dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈstɜːrb/","/dɪˈstɜːrbz/","/dɪˈstɜːrbd/","/dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌri/","/ˈwʌriz/","/ˈwʌrid/","/ˈwʌriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwɜːri/","/ˈwɜːriz/","/ˈwɜːrid/","/ˈwɜːriɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to interrupt or bother someone | To feel uneasy or anxious about something. |
| Example | Please do not disturb me while I am working on this project. | I tend to worry about my exams every time. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | disturb the peace, disturb someone, disturb the flow | a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about |
| Antonyms | calm, soothe, pacify | calm, relax, dismiss |
| 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). | Confused with 'worry' vs 'care' — 'worry' implies anxiety., Incorrectly use 'worrying' as a noun instead of a verb., Using 'worry' without an object, e.g., 'I worry' should be followed by 'about something.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'disturb' when someone is interrupted. It can sound rude if you say it while someone is working or focusing. | Use 'worry' for general concerns. It's neutral but can sound weak in more serious contexts. Avoid in professional settings unless discussing stress. |
Frequently asked questions: Disturb vs Worry
What's the difference between Disturb and Worry?
Disturb: to interrupt or bother someone Worry: To feel uneasy or anxious about something.
Are Disturb and Worry the same CEFR level?
Disturb: B2, Worry: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Disturb and Worry interchangeably?
Not always. Disturb and Worry 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.