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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Distract

/dɪˈstɹækt/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To divert the attention of..

Definitions by Sense

  1. (transitive) To divert the attention of.
  2. (transitive) To divert (attention).
  3. (transitive) To make crazy or insane; to drive to distraction.
  4. Drawn asunder; separated.
  5. Insane, mad.

Example Sentences

The crowd was distracted by a helicopter hovering over the stadium when the only goal of the game was scored.
While Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had warned his players against letting the pre-match festivities distract them from the task at hand, they clearly struggled for fluency early on.
Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.
I eschew the idea of plugging in my laptop to take notes and resort to old-fashioned pen and paper instead, so that I can enjoy more of the view and not be distracted by bashing a keyboard.
It is recorded in the Talmud that there was no water organ [...] at the Temple, because of its sweet and powerful voice which was able to distract attention from the traditional instruments.
By Heav’ns, ſuch Virtues, join’d with ſuch Succeſs, Diſtract my very Soul: Our Father’s Fortune Wou’d almoſt tempt us to renounce his Precepts.
Ol[ivia]. […] Fetch Maluolio hither, / And yet alas, novv I remember me, / They ſay poore Gentleman, he's much diſtract. […] Did he vvrite this? / Clo[wn]. I [aye] Madame. / Du[ke Orsino]. This ſauours not much of diſtraction.
Alone ſhee beeing left the ſpoyle of loue and death, / In labour of her griefe outrageouſly diſtract, / The utmoſt of her ſpleene on her falſe Lord to act […]

Synonyms for distract

sidetrackdisquiettroubledeflectperturbcarkdisorderdraw awayunhinge

Antonyms for distract

Related Words

deflectdisordertroubleperturbdisquietcarkdraw awayunhingedivertdisruptdetractdeterdissuademessdeviateobscureavertmisappropriatepreventdisguise

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does distract mean?

Distract means (transitive) To divert the attention of..

What is a synonym for distract?

Common synonyms include sidetrack, disquiet, trouble, deflect.

What is the opposite of distract?

The opposite depends on the specific sense.

How do you use distract in a sentence?

The crowd was distracted by a helicopter hovering over the stadium when the only goal of the game was scored.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.