WordLens

distract

1 of 1verb
/dɪˈstrækt/
Forms:distracts,distracting,distracted,distracted
1

to cause someone to lose their focus or attention from something they were doing or thinking about

transitive
  • During the important meeting, the constant tapping of a pen began to distract everyone in the room.
  • The noisy construction outside the window tended to distract her from studying for exams.
  • A loud conversation in the neighboring cubicle can distract employees trying to concentrate on their tasks.
  • The loud music from the party next door distracted them from their peaceful evening at home.
  • I was distracted by the constant chatter in the room and couldn't concentrate on my reading.
Synonyms:
2

to make someone feel confused or torn by mixing up their emotions or intentions

transitive
  • The unexpected news distracted her, making it hard to focus on the task.
  • He was distracted by his feelings of guilt and excitement at the same time.
  • The conflicting advice from family members distracted him.
  • The constant pressure of the situation distracted her.
  • She was distracted by her worries about the future, not knowing what to do next.