distract
verb (used with object)
to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention.
have distracted
-
present perfectof distract.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Time and again, conflicts elsewhere have distracted them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
“The continued issues with testing locations, scheduling, technical issues, and communication lapses have distracted applicants from their studies and created confusion.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2025
But while Mr Macron's abrupt decision to pick a popular and youthful prime minister may have distracted people from his government's broader struggles, the honeymoon period may not last long.
From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2024
Ford himself would say that an “indictment, a trial, a conviction, and anything else that transpired” would have distracted the country from more immediate problems.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 2, 2023
The friar apologizes: “In short, his mathematical experiments have distracted him so much from painting that he cannot abide the paintbrush.”
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
