detract

American  

[dih-trakt] / dɪˈtrækt /

verb (used without object)

• detracts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• detracted,
  past participle,  past
• detracting
  present participle

1. to take away a part, as from quality, value, or reputation (usually followed byfrom ).

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verb (used with object)

• detracts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• detracted,
  past participle,  past
• detracting
  present participle

1. to draw away or divert; distract.

   to detract another's attention from more important issues.

2. Archaic. to take away (a part); abate.

   The dilapidated barn detracts charm from the landscape.

detract British  

/ dɪˈtrækt /

verb

1. to take away a part (of); diminish

   her anger detracts from her beauty

2. (tr) to distract or divert

3. obsolete (tr) to belittle or disparage

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Usage

Detract is sometimes wrongly used where distract is meant: a noise distracted (not detracted ) my attention

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• detractor
  noun
• detractive
  adjective
• undetracting
  adjective
• detractingly
  adverb
• detractively
  adverb
• undetractingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• detracting
  present
• detracted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• detract
  simple
• detracts
  simple
• have detracted
  perfect
• has detracted
  perfect
• am detracting
  progressive
• are detracting
  progressive
• is detracting
  progressive
• have been detracting
  perfect progressive
• has been detracting
  perfect progressive

Past

• detracted
  simple
• had detracted
  perfect
• was detracting
  progressive
• were detracting
  progressive
• had been detracting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will detract
  simple
• will have detracted
  perfect
• will be detracting
  progressive
• will have been detracting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of detract

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French detracter or directly from Latin dētractus “drawn away” (past participle of dētrahere ), equivalent to dē- de- + tractus “drawn”; see tract ¹

Explanation

If you detract from something — like an achievement or an opinion or an object — you take away some of its value or diminish it. That dent in the door of your car may detract from its overall value. The verb detract comes from the Latin word detrahere, meaning “draw away from,” or “take down.” If you detract from someone’s credibility, you reduce — or take down — that person's worth. When you make valid points opposing an argument a politician is making, you detract from her platform. Detract can also describe drawing attention away from something. If the politician then makes a public display of her humanity, she's trying to detract attention away from your arguments.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

detract detracts detracted detracting

The share fall shouldn’t detract from a record backlog of 6 billion euros, the French industrial-gases company’s pricing power or its ability to deliver the targeted margin improvement, they add.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Perhaps that explains her perfunctory, somewhat rote speech — which still didn’t detract from the joy of her win.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

Should they detract from her advice, when maybe hearing “I have a good kid” could really help someone?

From Slate ● May 10, 2026

"So yes, we are close allies, we do disagree on things, but that doesn't detract from the value that both sides get from this relationship and have done over many decades," she said.

From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026

And besides, I suspected that fighting a battle royal might detract from the dignity of my speech.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

He added speculation about Sr Keir's leadership and constant rumours about who might replace him "distracts and detracts" from the job Labour MPs were trying to do.

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026

Opting out of that challenge detracts from the drama and prevents fans from seeing the best performers in action.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2025

And when you’re with other people, pocket the phone: Even its mere presence diverts attention and detracts from enjoyment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025

Do you think this enhances or detracts from your work?

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2024

As Turner states, the idea that the “performing arts” must always be performed onstage to be valid detracts from their use to develop and explore the emotional, cognitive, social development and human potential.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

The city’s price correction, along with a broader run-up in inventory in Texas, has detracted from Austin’s near-term appeal to builders, many of whom offer buyers incentives at the expense of their margins.

From Barron's ● May 31, 2026

Trade detracted 0.1 percentage point from growth, with imports up 1.5% and exports up 1.0%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 3, 2025

The final pair of Stark and rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez lost a hole on the group in front which highlighted the problem of glacial pace of play and again detracted from the spectacle.

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2025

The nation’s top doctor had spent his two terms interviewing citizens across the country learning about what contributed to and detracted from their mental and physical health.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2025

They detracted not only from who he incontestably was—a grandmaster and the United States Champion—but who he believed he was—the strongest player in the world.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Mr. Gallo’s design for this is evocative, but a backdrop depicting a cityscape looms behind it, detracting from the play’s intimacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

But regardless of how that comeback ends, Vonn isn’t worried about it detracting from what she’s already accomplished.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2025

That desire to take up position in more dangerous areas does not appear to be detracting from Jesus' all-round game - certainly not against Palace.

From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2024

The Golden Gate Bridge is a rare blend of form and function, a massive structure that somehow adds to nature’s beauty instead of detracting from it.

From New York Times ● Nov. 5, 2023

Without detracting from it there is also a world of beauty in an amazing river, always arriving, always departing; its banks wondrously deeply colored with green and gold.

From Revisiting the Earth by James Langdon Hill

Related Words

• draw away