distract

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

Definition of distract

archaic

: insane, mad

First Known Use of distract

14th century

distract

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verb dis·tract \di-ˈstrakt\

Definition of distract

transitive verb
1a : to turn aside : divert refused to be distracted from her purposeb : 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
2 : to stir up or confuse with conflicting emotions or motives

distractibility

play \-ˌstrak-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

distractible

or less commonly

distractable

play \-ˈstrak-tə-bəl\ adjective

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.

Origin and Etymology of distract

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

NEW!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

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 Defined for English Language Learners

distract

play

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

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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.