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distract
[ dih-strakt ]
verb (used with object)
- to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention:
The music distracted him from his work.
- to disturb or trouble greatly in mind; beset:
Grief distracted him.
- to provide a pleasant diversion for; amuse; entertain:
I'm bored with bridge, but golf still distracts me.
- to separate or divide by dissension or strife.
adjective
- Obsolete. distracted.
distract
/ dɪˈstrækt /
verb
- often passive to draw the attention of (a person) away from something
- to divide or confuse the attention of (a person)
- to amuse or entertain
- to trouble greatly
- to make mad
Derived Forms
- disˈtractingly, adverb
- disˈtractively, adverb
- disˈtracting, adjective
- disˈtractible, adjective
- disˌtractiˈbility, noun
- disˈtractive, adjective
- disˈtracter, noun
Other Words From
- dis·tracti·ble adjective
- dis·tracting·ly adverb
- nondis·tracting adjective
- nondis·tracting·ly adverb
- undis·tracting adjective
- undis·tracting·ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of distract1
Example Sentences
Some caution that the Olympics could distract from solving the city’s problems.
They are easily distracted and taken advantage of.
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.
According to Gaya, this is part of the larger authoritarian pattern of distracting people from climate change by blaming vulnerable communities.
"Their conspiracism serves to distract them from Trump’s actual policy agenda and his authoritarian ambitions," he wrote.
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