Disturb vs Upset

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Disturb

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 verb

Upset

Top 2,000 (common) B1 adjective

Most common: Disturb

	Disturb	Upset
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈstɜːb/","/dɪˈstɜːbz/","/dɪˈstɜːbd/","/dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈstɜːrb/","/dɪˈstɜːrbz/","/dɪˈstɜːrbd/","/dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˌʌpˈset/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˌʌpˈset/"]/
Meaning	to interrupt or bother someone	To make someone sad or angry.
Example	Please do not disturb me while I am working on this project.	I understand how upset you must be feeling.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	B1
Part of speech	verb	adjective
Collocations	disturb the peace, disturb someone, disturb the flow	appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, at, with
Antonyms	calm, soothe, pacify	calm, happy
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 'upset' as a noun and verb., Used incorrectly as an adjective without understanding the emotional context., Mixed up with 'angry,' which is often stronger.
Usage notes	Use 'disturb' when someone is interrupted. It can sound rude if you say it while someone is working or focusing.	Use 'upset' to describe feelings of sadness or anger, typically in a context that is personal or emotional. It may not be appropriate for formal writing where stronger language ('angry,' 'distressed') might be preferred.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

Do not disturb the water.

Disturb

What's she so upset about?

Sherlock › S1 E1

But that was ages ago. Why would she still be upset?

What's she so upset about?

Sherlock › S1 E1

But that was ages ago. Why would she still be upset?

Upset

Frequently asked questions: Disturb vs Upset

What's the difference between Disturb and Upset?

Disturb: to interrupt or bother someone Upset: To make someone sad or angry.

Which is more common: Disturb and Upset?

Disturb is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Disturb and Upset?

Disturb is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Disturb and Upset the same CEFR level?

Disturb: B2, Upset: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Disturb and Upset?

Disturb: verb, Upset: adjective.

Can you show an example of each?

Disturb: Please do not disturb me while I am working on this project. Upset: I understand how upset you must be feeling.

Can I use Disturb and Upset interchangeably?

Not always. Disturb and Upset 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.