distract

[ dih-strakt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention:

   The music distracted him from his work.

2. to disturb or trouble greatly in mind; beset:

   Grief distracted him.

   Synonyms: distress, torment, pain, agitate, bewilder

3. to provide a pleasant diversion for; amuse; entertain:

   I'm bored with bridge, but golf still distracts me.

4. to separate or divide by dissension or strife.

adjective

1. Obsolete. distracted.

distract

/ dɪˈstrækt /

verb

1. often passive to draw the attention of (a person) away from something
2. to divide or confuse the attention of (a person)
3. to amuse or entertain
4. to trouble greatly
5. to make mad

Derived Forms

• disˈtractingly, adverb
• disˈtractively, adverb
• disˈtracting, adjective
• disˈtractible, adjective
• disˌtractiˈbility, noun
• disˈtractive, adjective
• disˈtracter, noun

Other Words From

• dis·tracti·ble adjective
• dis·tracting·ly adverb
• nondis·tracting adjective
• nondis·tracting·ly adverb
• undis·tracting adjective
• undis·tracting·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of distract¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin distractus “drawn apart,” past participle of distrahere “to draw apart,” from dis- dis- ¹ + trahere “to draw”

Word History and Origins

Origin of distract¹

C14: from Latin distractus perplexed, from distrahere to pull in different directions, from dis- ¹+ trahere to drag

Example Sentences

Some caution that the Olympics could distract from solving the city’s problems.

From Los Angeles Times

She told the BBC Africa Daily podcast that the claims were "supposed to lower my credibility. It is supposed to distract me. I know who I am and I know what I have done and what I am going to do."

From BBC

In the Slate Plus episode: After a week of anxiety, doomscrolling, and disappointment, the hosts discuss what they’re doing to distract themselves from the news.

From Slate

Countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly denied accusations they are using sport to distract from their authoritarian regimes' human rights violations, and have accused Western critics of hypocrisy.

From BBC

"Their conspiracism serves to distract them from Trump’s actual policy agenda and his authoritarian ambitions," he wrote.

From Salon

Related Words

• amuse
• bewilder
• detract
• disturb
• divert
• entertain
• fluster
• mislead
• perplex
• puzzle
• trouble