distracted

adjective

dis·​tract·​ed di-ˈstrak-təd 

1

: having one's thoughts or attention drawn away : unable to concentrate or give attention to something

a distracted driver

… everyone else … is too distracted to see how lost and yearning she has become …

—Richard Schickel

… used to get so distracted by cellphone conversations overheard on the bus that she couldn't focus on reading.

—Roni Caryn Rabin

2

: harassed, confused, or disturbed especially by strong feelings

a mind distracted by grief

… putting that poor gentleman through a course of questions that nearly drove him distracted.

—Louisa May Alcott

distractedly adverb

distractedness noun

Synonyms of distracted

• agitated
• distraught
• worried
• frightened
• frantic
• scared

Choose the Right Synonym for distracted

abstracted, preoccupied, absent, absent-minded, distracted mean inattentive to what claims or demands consideration.

abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

absent-minded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absent-minded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

Examples of distracted in a Sentence

If you're feeling distracted, take a break.

she's been distracted about her son ever since he left on that polar expedition

Recent Examples on the Web

SpaceX, the dominant player in the burgeoning commercial space market, is running behind on its huge lunar lander and is more distracted than ever with an initial sale of shares to the public that could raise as much as $75 billion. —Thomas Black, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026

Experts say large gatherings — from Fiesta events to packed Spurs watch parties — can create the kind of close-quarters environment where bad actors may try to take advantage of distracted crowds. —Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Apr. 2026

The event, which featured speakers, musical performances and the Caltrans Honor Guard, was intended to both honor those who died and remind the public of the dangerous conditions — including fast-moving and distracted motorists — that workers face daily. —Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026

Officers will be looking for speeding, impaired driving, aggressive driving and distracted driving. —Mark Prussin, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of distract entry 1

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for distracted

• abstracted
• attracted
• compacted
• contacted
• detracted
• diffracted
• enacted
• exacted
• extracted
• impacted
• protracted
• reacted