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Distract - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

To distract means to divert someone’s attention away from something, often causing them to lose focus. It can involve interruptions, noise, or other actions that shift concentration.

distract

/dɪˈstrækt/ /dɪˈstrækt/

Definition:

To divert attention away from something, often causing confusion or interruption.

Synonyms:

divert, sidetrack, disturb, disrupt

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

focus, concentrate

Common Collocations:

distract attention, distract someone, easily distracted, distract from work

Derivatives:

distraction, distracting, distractible

Usage Tips:

Use "distract" when describing actions that draw attention away from a task or focus.

Common Phrases:

distract the mind, distract from the issue, a distraction tactic

Etymology:

From Latin *distractus*, meaning "drawn apart," from *dis-* (apart) + *trahere* (to draw).

Examples:

  • 1. The loud noise distracted me from my homework.
  • 2. She tried to distract the baby with a toy.
  • 3. Don’t let social media distract you during study time.
  • 4. His jokes were meant to distract us from the problem.

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