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

Police noted that the driver of the Hyundai remained at the scene to cooperate with their investigation, and that speed, distracted driving and driving under the influence did not appear to be factors in the collision. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026

As long as Woodson isn’t distracted, Wise is fine with it. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026

Of the 4,061 people killed on California highways and roads in 2023 in collisions, 158 were caused at least in part by distracted driving, according to UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center. —Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026

According to TxDOT data, 1 in 9 traffic fatalities are caused by distracted driving. —Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 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