distract

UK: /dɪˈstrækt/ US: /dɪˈstrækt/ ,(di strakt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•tract /dɪˈstrækt/   v. 

1. to draw away or divert;
   to keep (one's mind) from concentrating: [~ + object]
   One of the group distracted me by asking for help.
   [~ + object + from + object]
   The music distracted us from our work.
2. to provide a pleasant diversion for;
   amuse;
   entertain:
   [~ + object] I was distracted for a while and forgot my troubles.

See -trac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•tract  (di strakt′), v.t. 

1. to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention:
   The music distracted him from his work.
2. to disturb or trouble greatly in mind;
   beset:
   Grief distracted him.
3. to provide a pleasant diversion for;
   amuse;
   entertain:
   I'm bored with bridge, but golf still distracts me.
4. to separate or divide by dissension or strife.

adj. 

5. [Obs.] distracted.

• Latin distractus (past participle of distrahere to draw apart), equivalent. to dis- dis-¹ + trac- (variant stem of trahere to draw) + -tus past participle suffix
• Middle English 1350–1400

dis•tract′er, n. 
dis•tract′i•ble, adj. 
dis•tract′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. bewilder, agitate, pain, torment, distress.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

distract / dɪˈstrækt/ verb (transitive)

1. (often passive) to draw the attention of (a person) away from something
2. to divide or confuse the attention of (a person)
3. to amuse or entertain
4. to trouble greatly
5. to make mad

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin distractus perplexed, from distrahere to pull in different directions, from dis-¹ + trahere to drag