distract
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distract
to disturb or trouble greatly: Her grief distracted her from her work.; bewilder, agitate, pain, torment, distress; to provide a pleasant diversion for; amuse; entertain: A good movie will always distract me from my worries.
Not to be confused with:
detract – to take away a part of the quality, value, or reputation: Don’t detract from the value of his remarks.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
dis·tract
(dĭ-străkt′)tr.v. dis·tract·ed, dis·tract·ing, dis·tracts
1. To cause (someone) to have difficulty paying attention to something: The voices in the other room distracted him, so he couldn't concentrate on his homework.
2. To attract (the attention) away from its original focus; divert.
3. To cause to feel worried or uneasy; unsettle: The company's workforce was distracted by the prospect of a takeover.
[Middle English distracten, from Latin distrahere, distract-, to pull away : dis-, apart; see dis- + trahere, to draw.]
dis·tract′i·bil′i·ty n.
dis·tract′i·ble adj.
dis·tract′ing·ly adv.
dis·trac′tive adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
distract
(dɪˈstrækt)vb (tr)
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. (Psychology) to trouble greatly
5. (Psychology) to make mad
[C14: from Latin distractus perplexed, from distrahere to pull in different directions, from dis-1 + trahere to drag]
disˈtracter n
disˈtractible adj
disˌtractiˈbility n
disˈtracting adj
disˈtractingly adv
disˈtractive adj
disˈtractively adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
dis•tract
(dɪˈstrækt)v.t.
1. to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention: The music distracted us from our work.
2. to disturb or trouble greatly in mind; beset.
3. to provide a pleasant diversion for; amuse; entertain.
4. to separate or divide by dissension or strife.
adj. 5. Obs. distracted.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin distractus, past participle of distrahere to draw apart =dis- dis-1 + trahere to draw]
dis•tract′i•ble, adj.
dis•tract′i•bil`i•ty, n.
dis•tract′ing•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
distract
Past participle: distracted
Gerund: distracting
Imperative |
---|
distract |
distract |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Verb | 1. | distract - draw someone's attention away from something; "The thief distracted the bystanders"; "He deflected his competitors" disconcert, flurry, confuse, put off - cause to feel embarrassment; "The constant attention of the young man confused her" |
2. | distract - disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed; "She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
distract
verb
1. divert, sidetrack, draw away, turn aside, lead astray, draw or lead away from Video games sometimes distract him from his homework.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
distract
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَشْغَلُيَصْرِفُ عَن، يُلْهي
rozptýlitrozptylovatvyrušovat
distrahere
häiritä
odvratiti pažnju
elvon
draga, leiîa frá
注意をそらす
산만하게 하다
apkvaišimasatitrauktasatitrauktiišblaškytiišprotėjęs
novērst
vyrušiť
zamotiti
distrahera
ทำให้ไขว้เขว
dikkatini dağıtmakilgisini başka yöne çekmek
làm sao lãng
distract
[dɪsˈtrækt] VT [+ person] to distract sb (from sth) → distraer a algn (de algo)to distract sb's attention (from sth) → desviar la atención de algn (de algo)
she is easily distracted → se distrae fácilmente
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
distract
[dɪˈstrækt] vt [+ person] → distraire, dérangerto distract sb from sth → détourner qn de qch
to distract sb's attention → distraire l'attention de qn
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
distract
vt
(old, = amuse) → zerstreuen, die Zeit vertreiben (+dat)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
distract
[dɪsˈtrækt] vt (person) to distract sb (from sth) → distrarre qn (da qc)to distract sb's attention (from sth) → distrarre or sviare l'attenzione di qn (da qc)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
distract
(diˈstrӕkt) verb to draw aside (the mind or attention of). He was constantly being distracted from his work by the noisy conversation of his colleagues.
diˈstracted adjective1. turned aside (from what one is doing or thinking). He had slipped out while her attention was distracted.
2. out of one's mind; mad. a distracted old woman.
3. distressed. The distracted mother couldn't reach her child in the burning house.
diˈstraction (-ʃən) noun1. something that takes the mind off other especially more serious affairs. There are too many distractions here to allow one to work properly.
2. anxiety and confusion. in a state of complete distraction.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
distract
→ يَشْغَلُ rozptýlit distrahere ablenken αποσπώ την προσοχή distraer häiritä distraire odvratiti pažnju distrarre 注意をそらす 산만하게 하다 afleiden distrahere oderwać distrair отвлекать distrahera ทำให้ไขว้เขว ilgisini başka yöne çekmek làm sao lãng 转移注意力Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
distract
v. distraer, interrumpir.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012