distraction

[ dih-strak-shuhn ]
See synonyms for: distractiondistractions on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the act of distracting.

  2. the state of being distracted.

  1. mental distress or derangement: That child will drive me to distraction.

  2. that which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration: The distractions of the city interfere with my studies.

  3. that which amuses, entertains, or diverts; amusement; entertainment: Fishing is his major distraction.

  4. division or disorder caused by dissension; tumult.

Origin of distraction

1
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin distractiōn-, stem of distractiō “separation”; equivalent to distract + -ion

Other words for distraction

Words Nearby distraction

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use distraction in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for distraction

distraction

/ (dɪˈstrækʃən) /


noun
  1. the act or an instance of distracting or the state of being distracted

  2. something that serves as a diversion or entertainment

  1. an interruption; an obstacle to concentration

  2. mental turmoil or madness

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012