distraction
Americannoun
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the act of distracting.
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the state of being distracted.
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mental distress or derangement.
That child will drive me to distraction.
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that which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration.
The distractions of the city interfere with my studies.
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that which amuses, entertains, or diverts; amusement; entertainment.
Fishing is his major distraction.
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division or disorder caused by dissension; tumult.
noun
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the act or an instance of distracting or the state of being distracted
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something that serves as a diversion or entertainment
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an interruption; an obstacle to concentration
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mental turmoil or madness
Etymology
Origin of distraction
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin distractiōn-, stem of distractiō “separation”; equivalent to distract + -ion
Explanation
A distraction is something that takes your attention away from what you're supposed to be doing. If you just can't keep from checking your email every ten seconds, that's a distraction that's going to interfere with doing your homework. A distraction can also be a pleasant break. If you're worried about your dance recital tomorrow, watching a mindless action flick may be a welcome distraction that helps you relax. Has anyone ever told you, "You're driving me to distraction"? When you're driven to distraction, you're so agitated you feel like you're going crazy. Distraction comes from the Latin dis-, "apart," and trahere, "drag." So distraction is when you're dragged away from your task or from your worries.
Vocabulary lists containing distraction
Smoke and Mirrors: The Lingo of Illusion and Deception
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Dear Martin
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When Stars Are Scattered
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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.
Fans will come for the sun, the hot dogs, the fun of cheering on someone they know or enjoying a moment of distraction at Los Angeles’ most sacred stadium.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
While fintech companies pitch these platforms as cutting-edge, Sudit argues the hype is a distraction from the underlying danger.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
"We don't spend a lot of time talking about AGI," Pineau said, dismissing the theorizing as a distraction.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Cumming called the focus on the AI image a distraction.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
My distraction made me lose focus and my next hatchet hack hit the metal ring that held the barrel together and glanced off.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
