distract

[ dih-strakt ]

/ dɪˈstrækt /

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See synonyms for: distract / distracted / distracting / distracts on Thesaurus.com

verb (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

Obsolete. distracted.

OTHER WORDS FOR distract

2 bewilder, agitate, pain, torment, distress.

See synonyms for distract on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of distract

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin distractus (past participle of distrahere to draw apart), equivalent to dis-dis-¹ + trac- (variant stem of trahere to draw) + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM distract

dis·tract·i·ble, adjectivedis·tract·ing·ly, adverbnon·dis·tract·ing, adjectivenon·dis·tract·ing·ly, adverb

un·dis·tract·ing, adjectiveun·dis·tract·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use distract in a sentence

There’s been plenty of hand-wringing about the potential for the Covid-19 pandemic to distract from the ongoing fight against climate change.
90% of the Global Power Capacity Added in 2020 Will Be Renewable|Edd Gent|November 16, 2020|Singularity Hub
Decide if you want to face one another or if that’s distracting, and talk about who gets the coveted window.
Sharing a home office with your partner? Here’s how to keep the peace.|Amanda Long|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
In a way, it’s pretty refreshing when you realize the game is more concerned with making sure your sword is good enough to hit things than distracting you with nonsensical lore, like most other games try to do.
‘Godfall’ impressions: A solid, sometimes boring adventure|Gene Park|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
He said he distracts himself from pain by playing games or watching YouTube.
He Has a Developmental Disability and Needs a Caretaker. The State Suggested Diapers Instead.|by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star|November 6, 2020|ProPublica

Leaving the Paris agreement means the road we must travel to stop climate catastrophe will see higher temperatures, more superstorms and wildfires, more climate displacement — and we simply do not have the time to be delayed or distracted.
As U.S. leaves Paris accord, climate policy hangs on election outcome|Brady Dennis, Juliet Eilperin, Dino Grandoni|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
He was then found to be very distractible and inattentive, seemed suspicious and excited and assumed stiff attitudes.
Studies in Forensic Psychiatry|Bernard Glueck
She was therefore quite distractible, very alert; sometimes she was meddlesome, again irritable, irascible.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch
Then ten months after admission she one day suddenly became talkative, distractible and emotional, laughing and crying.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch

British Dictionary definitions for distract

distract

/ (dɪˈstrækt) /

verb (tr)

(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

Derived forms of distract

distracter, noundistractible, adjectivedistractibility, noundistracting, adjective

distractingly, adverbdistractive, adjectivedistractively, adverb

Word Origin for distract

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

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

distract

OTHER WORDS FOR distract

Origin of distract

OTHER WORDS FROM distract

Words related to distract

How to use distract in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for distract

Derived forms of distract

Word Origin for distract