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 Avoid distractions and actively participate in group activities or discussions. Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 In the vacuum of news about her, however, experts say Mr. Goldsmith’s reality-TV antics may provide a welcome distraction for Britain’s tabloid papers. Mark Landler, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Smartphones and smartwatch distractions can cause the memory of a certain event to be weaker. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Kalari Rasayana Ayurveda Hospital is a retreat without distractions. Jane Alexander, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Feb. 2024 Instead, those efforts are being undermined by unnecessary distractions that threaten to undermine the league’s potential for growth. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Start smart and avoid some of the predictable distractions and divisiveness that inter-generational conflict can inflame. Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Conversely, a plethora of onlookers can be a distraction. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 The Colorado State Patrol said Friday that no factors had been ruled out as the case for the crash, including but not limited to speed, impairment, or other distractions. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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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