distract

[dih-strakt]

verb (used with object)

1. to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention.

   The music distracted him from his work.

2. to disturb or trouble greatly in mind; beset.

   Grief distracted him.

   Synonyms: distress, torment, pain, agitate, bewilder

3. to provide a pleasant diversion for; amuse; entertain.

   I'm bored with bridge, but golf still distracts me.

4. to separate or divide by dissension or strife.

adjective

1. Obsolete.,  distracted.

distract

/ dɪˈstrækt /

verb

1. (often passive) to draw the attention of (a person) away from something

2. to divide or confuse the attention of (a person)

3. to amuse or entertain

4. to trouble greatly

5. to make mad

Other Word Forms

• distractingly adverb
• distractively adverb
• distracting adjective
• distractible adjective
• distractibility noun
• distractive adjective
• distracter noun
• nondistracting adjective
• nondistractingly adverb
• undistracting adjective
• undistractingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of distract¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of distract¹

C14: from Latin distractus perplexed, from distrahere to pull in different directions, from _dis- ¹ + trahere to drag

Example Sentences

He gets distracted and accidentally hits a wandering dog.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We’re awash in a world of deceptions and misdirection, by those creating illusions to distract from the truth.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We don’t need to distract them with anything else.”

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Russian President Vladimir Putin called the detention of the ship “piracy” and said the move was meant to distract from France’s difficult domestic political situation.

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“What they’re trying to do with these riots and violence is distract us and keep us from going after those murderers and rapists that are out in the streets,” Noem said.

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Related Words

• amuse 
• bewilder 
• detract 
• disturb 
• divert 
• entertain 
• fluster 
• mislead 
• perplex 
• puzzle 
• trouble