distraction

noun

dis·​trac·​tion di-ˈstrak-shən How to pronounce distraction (audio)
1
: something that distracts : an object that directs one's attention away from something else
turned off her phone to limit distractions
One created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.
especially : amusement
a harmless distraction
a book of word puzzles and other distractions
2
: the act of distracting or the state of being distracted
especially : mental confusion
driven to distraction by their endless chatter
distractive adjective

Examples of distraction in a Sentence

It was hard to work with so many distractions. One of them created a distraction while the other grabbed the money. A weekend at the beach was a good distraction from her troubles. Their endless chatter drove her to distraction.
Recent Examples on the Web Yet, Ward’s choice to place Danny and Roberta on the floor and in bed during the second half of the play often makes the couple invisible to a good chunk of the audience, which becomes a distraction. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 14 Nov. 2023 Put an end to their search with these, from Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra line: The world-class noise cancelling features help block out any distractions, and Bose’s unique Immersive Audio offers sound so real that the wearer might be tempted to try to reach out and touch it. Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023 To avoid dangerous distractions and ensure the safe operation of vehicles, interfaces must be as intuitive as possible and require minimum effort to navigate. Jon Kirchner, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Cutting out the distraction is the only way to enter that near-meditative state that all good hunters strive for. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Nov. 2023 Take a break There are several ways to block out the distraction of email beyond just never opening it. Danielle Abril, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023 Distract driving account for 8.2 percent of all traffic deaths, and the use of cell phones while driving to text, email or take pictures is considered one of the biggest issues causing distractions. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2023 But alerts like this have to strike a balance between being informative and not becoming a distraction, so that makes sense. Wes Davis, The Verge, 7 Nov. 2023 If your attention tends to wander while working, consider a furniture layout that faces the desk away from the yard to avoid distractions. Marisa Donnelly, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'distraction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see distract entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of distraction was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near distraction

Cite this Entry

“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distraction. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

distraction

noun
dis·​trac·​tion dis-ˈtrak-shən How to pronounce distraction (audio)
1
: the act of distracting : the state of being distracted
especially : mental confusion
2
a
: something that makes it hard to pay attention
distractive adjective

Medical Definition

distraction

noun
dis·​trac·​tion dis-ˈtrak-shən How to pronounce distraction (audio)
1
a
: diversion of the attention
b
: mental confusion
2
: excessive separation (as from improper traction) of fracture fragments
distract transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on distraction

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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