distraction

[ dih-strak-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of distracting.
2. the state of being distracted. 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.

distraction

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of distraction¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin distractiōn-, stem of distractiō “separation”; equivalent to distract + -ion

Example Sentences

Turns out, spending a couple of nights surrounding a campfire is exactly the distraction we need right now.

From Outside Online

When I’m thinking, brainstorming, and writing, I turn the Wi-Fi off to limit the distraction and force me to focus.

From Fortune

“Presumably, you don’t have internet, you’re not online, you’re not watching TV,” she says, adding that without those distractions, you may find yourself itching to put together a real meal.

From Outside Online

Also, you may realize we did not put out a Rocket Report last week—this is because the threat of Hurricane Laura provided an unexpected but significant distraction to the author.

From Ars Technica

Cities like the one she lives in are full of distractions, so she likes to stand between two parked cars and do command training to get the dog she’s with to focus on her and ignore whatever’s whizzing by.

From Popular-Science

Day by day, it drives people to distraction by diverting energy to mindless legal compliance.

From The Daily Beast

There was a handy distraction in the Che t-shirt the tourist was wearing while celebrating the death.

From The Daily Beast

The New York Daily News declared that “Russian strongman Vladimir Putin has unleashed a weapon of mass distraction.”

From The Daily Beast

All of it feels like a twisted dream—a potential distraction from the depressing post-Manson environment of SoCal.

From The Daily Beast

Still others see the presence of guns on campus as a distraction at best, and at worst, a danger.

From The Daily Beast

They were still a little perturbed by the brilliance and distraction, and it was as an alien that she moved among them still.

From Project Gutenberg

He tried to console her, to amuse her, but what distraction could be found to appeal to that monstrously apathetic nature?

From Project Gutenberg

But he saw at once that he must not let her see any such feeling; the least hint of it would have driven her to distraction.

From Project Gutenberg

Among them was her aunt, pointing with distraction to the fiery edifice, and apparently urging the dragoon to enter it.

From Project Gutenberg

Caroline affects a sort of distraction sufficiently well played to induce the belief that she is not listening.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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