distraction

American  

[dih-strak-shuhn] / dɪˈstræk ʃən /

noun

• distractions
  plural

1. the act of distracting.

2. the state of being distracted.

3. mental distress or derangement.

   That child will drive me to distraction.

   Synonyms:

   craziness, insanity, lunacy, madness

4. that which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration.

   The distractions of the city interfere with my studies.

5. that which amuses, entertains, or diverts; amusement; entertainment.

   Fishing is his major distraction.

6. division or disorder caused by dissension; tumult.

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distraction British  

/ dɪˈstrækʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of distracting or the state of being distracted

2. something that serves as a diversion or entertainment

3. an interruption; an obstacle to concentration

4. mental turmoil or madness

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• distractions
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

distraction distractions

Many investors abandon it exactly when they need it most: at the top of a cycle, when the thing they already own is working and everything else looks like a distraction.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

Students are under more stress today than their predecessors, he said, including the distraction of social media, bleaker job prospects and less secure economic conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

As for Cunningham, the attention has increasingly become an unwelcome distraction.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Mauricio Zambrano has meanwhile built a makeshift gym where cement and metal pipes serve as weights, providing welcome distraction to the former fighter.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

Anya had meant to get him talking as a distraction, but now she listened, completely enthralled.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

There is no European football at Forest next season so fewer distractions will enable Glasner to settle and mould the squad, but it does not mean there is no pressure.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

These cells appear to improve attention by filtering out distractions and directing the brain toward the most important information.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 24, 2026

Iran captain and star striker Mehdi Taremi said before the game he hoped the team that has unified in the face of massive distractions could provide solace during a difficult time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

How do you pay attention to this amid so many distractions?

From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026

The special festivities held enough distractions, with so many people milling around the train depot, that no one noticed Ned Gillen at the army recruitment station, signing his name on the dotted line.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Related Words

• aberration
• complication
• confusion
• disturbance
• diversion
• interference
• interruption