distracted
Americanadjective
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having the attention diverted.
She tossed several rocks to the far left and slipped past the distracted sentry.
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rendered incapable of behaving, reacting, etc., in a normal manner, as by worry, remorse, or the like; irrational; disturbed.
adjective
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bewildered; confused
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mad
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of distracted
Explanation
When you're distracted, something else has your attention, making you lose focus or become nervous. If a dog keeps barking or a car alarm won't stop going off, it's easy to become distracted: annoyed and not very focused on what you're trying to do. We also say people are distracted when they're worried about something. If you think you might lose your job, you'll be distracted by thinking about it. Knowing a family member has a disease can make you distracted with worries. When you're distracted, your mind is somewhere else.
Vocabulary lists containing distracted
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 16–19
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Because of Winn-Dixie
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Out of the Dust
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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.
"I've had the whole world to play with, so I've been distracted by many shiny things."
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
It’s a little like going out with a good-looking guy whose Hinge profile said he loves deep conversation, but he spends the date distracted by his Kalshi bets.
From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2026
The sequence has some clever gags, but you’re distracted by the awareness of being narratively underwhelmed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
In another interview Thursday with pro-Trump outlet Real America's Voice, Zacharia said she had registered to take the bar exam but was "distracted and overwhelmed" by plans to move to China with her husband.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
A gentle rush distracted me as raindrops riffled the surface of the lake.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
