distracted

[ dih-strak-tid ]

/ dɪˈstræk tɪd /

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See synonyms for: distracted / distractedly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having the attention diverted: She tossed several rocks to the far left and slipped past the distracted sentry.

rendered incapable of behaving, reacting, etc., in a normal manner, as by worry, remorse, or the like; irrational; disturbed.

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Origin of distracted

First recorded in 1580–90; distract + -ed²

OTHER WORDS FROM distracted

dis·tract·ed·ly, adverbdis·tract·ed·ness, nounnon·dis·tract·ed, adjectivenon·dis·tract·ed·ly, adverb

un·dis·tract·ed, adjectiveun·dis·tract·ed·ly, adverbun·dis·tract·ed·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use distracted in a sentence

Richtel is a New York Times reporter who won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting for documenting the distracted driving issue.
Video games deserve better than blanket, parachute coverage from reporters who don’t get it|Gene Park|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
The longer you wait to follow up, the more time they have to shop around or even to become distracted or change their mind.
SMX Overtime: Eternal testing, the key to Facebook Ads success|Amy Bishop|December 21, 2020|Search Engine Land
The National Fire Protection Association issued a prescient warning last March about the heightened danger of “distracted cooking” while more people are at home.
More burn injuries are occurring in kitchens during pandemic. Thanksgiving may see a rise in these accidents.|Katherine Ellison|November 22, 2020|Washington Post
“I’m an Aquarius, so I get bored and distracted,” said 27-year-old Josh Kelley when asked about their love life.
Date Lab update: These daters discussed their witch personas. Here’s where they are now.|Maureen O'Connor|November 5, 2020|Washington Post

They seem as self-distractedly addicted to social media as many of their customers are to drugs.
Is Mexico's Kim Kardashian-Lookalike Assassin for Real?|Michael Daly|June 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But when I asked if we could speak, he frowned and looked away distractedly.
Buddhist Retreat’s Death Saga|Lizzie Crocker|July 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Uttering these words, the good lady pointed distractedly to the cupboard, and underwent a convulsion from internal spasms.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens
As she paced distractedly across the room her eye was caught by the letter on the marble mantelshelf.
The Rake's Progress|Marjorie Bowen
Mr. Tallmadge mopped his brow, and looked about distractedly, like one who has lost his thread in a labyrinth.
The Open Question|Elizabeth Robins
Through the glare, many birds, unceremoniously routed from their nests beneath the eaves, flew distractedly.
Under the Rose|Frederic Stewart Isham
Harper wandered distractedly over toward the high wall bench.
The 4-D Doodler|Graph Waldeyer

British Dictionary definitions for distracted

distracted

/ (dɪˈstræktɪd) /

adjective

bewildered; confused

mad

Derived forms of distracted

distractedly, adverbdistractedness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

distracted

Origin of distracted

OTHER WORDS FROM distracted

Words related to distracted

How to use distracted in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for distracted

Derived forms of distracted