distract
Use Distract in a sentence
verb (used with object)
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.
adjective
5.
Obsolete, distracted.
00:10
Distract
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is absquatulate. Does it mean:
| to flee; abscond: |
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < 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
1350–1400; Middle English < 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
Related forms
dis·tract·i·ble, adjective
dis·tract·ing·ly, adverb
non·dis·tract·ing, adjective
non·dis·tract·ing·ly, adverb
un·dis·tract·ing, adjective
Synonyms
2. bewilder, agitate, pain, torment, distress.
2. bewilder, agitate, pain, torment, distress.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To distract
Collins
World English Dictionary
distract (dɪˈstrækt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 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 |
| [C14: from Latin distractus perplexed, from distrahere to pull in different directions, from | |
| dis'tracter | |
| —n | |
| dis'tractible | |
| —adj | |
| distracti'bility | |
| —n | |
| dis'tracting | |
| —adj | |
| dis'tractingly | |
| —adv | |
| dis'tractive | |
| —adj | |
| dis'tractively | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
distract
mid-14c., "to draw asunder or apart" (literal and figurative), from L. distractus, pp. of distrahere "draw in different directions," from dis- "away" + trahere "to draw" (see tract (1)). Sense of "to throw into a state of mind in which one knows not how to act" is from 1580s.
Related: Distracted; distracting.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Drawing up plans for fiscal federalism could distract government attention from the need for such reform.
They would also distract attention from the real source of the problem.
Charges of hypocrisy can be surprisingly irrelevant and often distract us from more important concerns.
Use formatting to support the organizational structure of your content, not distract from it.
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