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

Others worry internal conflicts detract from the union’s effectiveness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

A more Zen note was struck by a man named Peter, visiting from California, who does not like Trump but refused to let the president’s whims detract from his D.C. tour.

From Slate ● Jun. 19, 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

"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

Sadly, this fear was shared by some of their own constituents and supporters who believed that the union of both would weaken or detract from the strength of each movement.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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

“I think what some of the advertising lawyers have done has hurt a little, but I don’t think that detracts from all the good that’s been done,” Jacoby told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2026

My total ignorance of military maneuvers in no way detracts from my enjoyment and in some ways enhances it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 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

Sony also maintained that budget cuts within CBS had detracted from the network’s efforts to support the two shows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025

In the case of “Dancing Through Life,” the heinous backlighting detracted from the majesty of the film’s practical set pieces in the same scene.

From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2025

Though he was of average build, his cheeks had a plumpness to them; this, along with the eyelashes, detracted, he feared, from what he hoped was a distinguished profile.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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

But they were deemed to be too loud and risked "drowning supporter emotions and detracting from the experience of the game," European football's governing body said.

From BBC ● Feb. 7, 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

Their exercise of tolerance and their strenuous exertion, instead of exhausting, only makes them more capable and adds to instead of detracting from their powers.

From Health Through Will Power by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh

Related Words

• draw away