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.
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.