distract

verb dis·tract \ di-ˈstrakt \

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Definition of distract

1 a : to draw or direct (something, such as someone's attention) to a different object or in different directions at the same time

was distracted by a sudden noise

b : to turn aside : divert

refused to be distracted from her purpose

2 : to stir up or confuse with conflicting emotions or motives

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distractibility

play \-ˌstrak-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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distractible

or less commonly distractable play \-ˈstrak-tə-bəl\ adjective

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distractingly

play \-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

See distract defined for English-language learners

See distract defined for kids

Examples of distract in a Sentence

You sneak into his room while I distract him.
He was distracted from his studies.
The students are easily distracted, especially when they're tired.
I was distracted by a loud noise.
The local story distracted attention from news of the war overseas.

Recent Examples of distract from the Web

And which feel like an unfillable hole that distracts you from being with exactly what’s already here?

— bess matassa, Teen Vogue, "Weekly Horoscopes July 2-8," 29 June 2018
There are so many things that can distract us and keep us from really paying attention to what is most important.

— Cincinnati.com, "Make mindful eating a habit," 18 June 2018
Hogg said the swatting incident was an attempt to distract him from his political work.

— alex daugherty, miamiherald, "Parkland students who led March for Our Lives get Robert F. Kennedy human-rights award," 5 June 2018
Despite Diego Simeone's attempts to distract him, Beckham blasted home a penalty after Owen had gone down under Mauricio Pochettino's clumsy challenge.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 4 Weeks to Go - England Survive 'Group of Death' While Favourites Fail," 27 May 2018
The spoken discourse is a red herring that distracts from what’s really at play in the show.

— sonia saraiya, HWD, "Westworld Season 2 Review: A Dramatic Improvement," 20 Apr. 2018
Trump has been wagging the dog throughout his presidency, using Twitter and press conferences to spread lies that distract the public from his genuine scandals and policy failures.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "Trump Is Already Wagging The Dog," 12 Apr. 2018
The allegations are unproven, and Democrats and Clinton say the allegations are false and an attempt to distract from the Russia investigation.

— laura jarrett, CNN, "Sessions names prosecutor investigating claims of FBI misconduct," 29 Mar. 2018
Though many fans won’t be sad to see A Bug’s Land stomped out of existence, parents of small children may miss an area that can easily distract energetic, if not cranky, preschoolers.

— scott craven, azcentral, "Disney to add Marvel universe, close A Bug's Land at California Adventure," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'distract.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of distract

Middle English, from Latin distractus, past participle of distrahere, literally, to draw apart, from dis- + trahere to draw

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1b

See Words from the same year

distract Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of distract

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.

- the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.

- a behavior that perplexed her friends

bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.

- a bewildering number of possibilities

distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.

- distracted by personal problems

nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.

- the remark left us utterly nonplussed

confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.

- the tragic news confounded us all

dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.

- was at first too dumbfounded to reply

distract

adjective dis·tract \ di-ˈstrakt , ˈdis-ˌtrakt \

Definition of distract

archaic

: insane, mad

First Known Use of distract

14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

DISTRACT Defined for English Language Learners

distract

verb

Definition of distract for English Language Learners

: to cause (someone) to stop thinking about or paying attention to someone or something and to think about or pay attention to someone or something else instead
: to take (attention) away from someone or something

DISTRACT Defined for Kids

distract

verb dis·tract \ di-ˈstrakt \

Definition of distract for Students

distracted; distracting

: to draw a person's thoughts or attention to something else

The TV distracts me when I'm studying.

Word Root of distract

The Latin word tractus, meaning “pulled” or “dragged,” gives us the root tract. Words from the Latin tractus have to do with being pulled or dragged. To attract is to pull or draw towards you. To distract is to pull someone's attention away from something. To extract is to pull one thing out of another. To subtract is to pull a portion or number away from a group or from a whole.