distract
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention.
The music distracted him from his work.
-
to disturb or trouble greatly in mind; beset.
Grief distracted him.
-
to provide a pleasant diversion for; amuse; entertain.
I'm bored with bridge, but golf still distracts me.
-
to separate or divide by dissension or strife.
adjective
verb
-
(often passive) to draw the attention of (a person) away from something
-
to divide or confuse the attention of (a person)
-
to amuse or entertain
-
to trouble greatly
-
to make mad
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of distract
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin distractus “drawn apart,” past participle of distrahere “to draw apart,” from dis- dis- 1 + trahere “to draw”
Explanation
Distract is what you do when you draw someone’s attention — Hey! Look! Over there! Oh. Never mind. What was I saying? That’s right: distract is to draw attention away from what someone is doing. Distract comes from the Latin word for “draw apart.” It can be annoying when someone or something distracts you. A loud car alarm or a talkative friend might distract you when you’re watching your favorite TV show. But being distracted is not always bad. Playing a round of miniature golf might distract you from feeling sad about the death of your parakeet.
Vocabulary lists containing distract
List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"In the Spotlight," Vocabulary from the informational text
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then again, it might be an attempt to distract us from thinking too hard about all the illogic in Zachary Donohue and T.W.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
Films like “They Will Kill You” and those in the “Ready or Not” franchise incorporate visual elements of the divine and satanic to distract from their mediocre screenplays and recycled ideas.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
“I was looking forward to giving a talk about humility and gratitude, but I don’t want my presence to distract from the day’s festivities.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
Once the earnings onslaught fades, though, there will be little else to distract investors from the long-term damage the conflict has wreaked on the global oil market.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
“So do you think Mr. Reardon knows why we’re all being gathered together again?” he asked, mostly to distract himself from his own thoughts.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
