distract
verb (used with object)
to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention.
had been distracting
-
past perfect progressiveof distract.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
The noise, he remarked, had been distracting, but the silence at once became intolerably oppressive.
From Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
During this proceeding French had been distracting the enemy by a demonstration to the south-east of Colesburg.
From Sir John French An Authentic Biography by Cecil Chisholm
The thought of the baby in the Luxembourg Gardens had been distracting her for ever so long.
From The Lovels of Arden by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon
“No, I don’t,” said Heathcote, making up his mind at a bound on a question which had been distracting him for a week.
From Follow My leader The Boys of Templeton by W. S. (Walter S.) Stacey
