distraction

noun

dis·​trac·​tion di-ˈstrak-shən 

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

di-ˈstrak-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• bafflement
• bamboozlement
• befuddlement
• bemusement
• bewilderedness
• bewilderment
• confusedness
• confusion
• discombobulation
• fog
• head-scratching
• maze [chiefly dialect]
• muddle
• mystification
• perplexity
• puzzlement
• tangle
• whirl

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

Word History

Etymology

see distract entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

distraction

noun

dis·​trac·​tion dis-ˈtrak-shən 

1

: the act of distracting : the state of being distracted

especially : mental confusion

2

a

: something that makes it hard to pay attention

b

: amusement sense 1

distractive

-ˈtrak-tiv 

adjective

Medical Definition

distraction

noun

dis·​trac·​tion dis-ˈtrak-shən 

1

a

: diversion of the attention

b

: mental confusion

2

: excessive separation (as from improper traction) of fracture fragments

distract

dis-ˈtrakt 

transitive verb