adjective dis·tract \di-ˈstrakt, ˈdis-ˌtrakt\

Definition of DISTRACT

:  insane, mad

First Known Use of DISTRACT

14th century


verb dis·tract \di-ˈstrakt\

: to cause (someone) to stop thinking about or paying attention to someone or something and to think about or pay attention to someone or something else instead

: to take (attention) away from someone or something

Full Definition of DISTRACT

transitive verb
a :  to turn aside :  divert <refused to be distracted from her purpose>
b :  to draw or direct (as one's attention) to a different object or in different directions at the same time <was distracted by a sudden noise>
:  to stir up or confuse with conflicting emotions or motives
dis·tract·i·bil·i·ty \-ˌstrak-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
dis·tract·ible also dis·tract·able \-ˈstrak-tə-bəl\ adjective
dis·tract·ing·ly \-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of DISTRACT

  1. You sneak into his room while I distract him.
  2. He was distracted from his studies.
  3. The students are easily distracted, especially when they're tired.
  4. I was distracted by a loud noise.
  5. The local story distracted attention from news of the war overseas.

Origin of DISTRACT

Middle English, from Latin distractus, past participle of distrahere, literally, to draw apart, from dis- + trahere to draw
First Known Use: 14th century

Synonym Discussion of DISTRACT

DISTRACTIBLE Defined for Kids


verb dis·tract \di-ˈstrakt\

Definition of DISTRACT for Kids

:  to draw a person's thoughts or attention to something else <The TV distracts me when I'm studying.>

Word Root of DISTRACT

The Latin word tractus, meaning pulled or dragged, gives us the root tract. Words from the Latin tractus have to do with being pulled or dragged. To attract is to pull or draw towards you. To distract is to pull someone's attention away from something. To extract is to pull one thing out of another. To subtract is to pull a portion or number away from a group or from a whole.


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