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
Present
I distract
you distract
he/she/it distracts
we distract
you distract
they distract
Preterite
I distracted
you distracted
he/she/it distracted
we distracted
you distracted
they distracted
Present Continuous
I am distracting
you are distracting
he/she/it is distracting
we are distracting
you are distracting
they are distracting
Present Perfect
I have distracted
you have distracted
he/she/it has distracted
we have distracted
you have distracted
they have distracted
Past Continuous
I was distracting
you were distracting
he/she/it was distracting
we were distracting
you were distracting
they were distracting
Past Perfect
I had distracted
you had distracted
he/she/it had distracted
we had distracted
you had distracted
they had distracted
Future
I will distract
you will distract
he/she/it will distract
we will distract
you will distract
they will distract
Future Perfect
I will have distracted
you will have distracted
he/she/it will have distracted
we will have distracted
you will have distracted
they will have distracted
Future Continuous
I will be distracting
you will be distracting
he/she/it will be distracting
we will be distracting
you will be distracting
they will be distracting
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been distracting
you have been distracting
he/she/it has been distracting
we have been distracting
you have been distracting
they have been distracting
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been distracting
you will have been distracting
he/she/it will have been distracting
we will have been distracting
you will have been distracting
they will have been distracting
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been distracting
you had been distracting
he/she/it had been distracting
we had been distracting
you had been distracting
they had been distracting
Conditional
I would distract
you would distract
he/she/it would distract
we would distract
you would distract
they would distract
Past Conditional
I would have distracted
you would have distracted
he/she/it would have distracted
we would have distracted
you would have distracted
they would have distracted
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.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 alarmeddistract - 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"
vex, worry - disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress; "I cannot sleep--my daughter's health is worrying me"
disturb, trouble, upset - move deeply; "This book upset me"; "A troubling thought"
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.
2. amuse, occupy, entertain, beguile, engross I took out a book and tried to distract myself.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

distract

verb
To impair or destroy the composure of:
Informal: rattle.
The 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 distractedse 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, déranger
to 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
(= divert attention of)ablenken; to distract somebody’s attentionjdn ablenken
(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 adjective
1. 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) noun
1. 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
References in classic literature ?
A single well-directed man, by a single understanding, cannot be distracted and warped by that diversity of views, feelings, and interests, which frequently distract and warp the resolutions of a collective body.
There might have been cause for maternal anxiety, if Demi had not given convincing proofs that he was a true boy, as well as a budding philosopher, for often, after a discussion which caused Hannah to prophesy, with ominous nods, "That child ain't long for this world," he would turn about and set her fears at rest by some of the pranks with which dear, dirty, naughty little rascals distract and delight their parent's souls.
That quiet mutual gaze of a trusting husband and wife is like the first moment of rest or refuge from a great weariness or a great danger--not to be interfered with by speech or action which would distract the sensations from the fresh enjoyment of repose.
Stroeve could not bear to be alone, and I exhausted myself in efforts to distract him.
I did all I could to dissuade him from going to the wars: I told him there were men enow that were good for nothing else but to be killed, that had not the love of such fine ladies." "Sure," says Sophia, "the good woman is distracted." "No, no," cries the landlady, "I am not distracted.
THROUGH massacres of each other's citizens China and the United States had been four times plunged into devastating wars, when, in the year 1994, arose a Philosopher in Madagascar, who laid before the Governments of the two distracted countries the following MODUS VIVENDI:
Some princes, so as to hold securely the state, have disarmed their subjects; others have kept their subject towns distracted by factions; others have fostered enmities against themselves; others have laid themselves out to gain over those whom they distrusted in the beginning of their governments; some have built fortresses; some have overthrown and destroyed them.
The south-westerly mood of the great West Wind is a lightless mood, without sun, moon, or stars, with no gleam of light but the phosphorescent flashes of the great sheets of foam that, boiling up on each side of the ship, fling bluish gleams upon her dark and narrow hull, rolling as she runs, chased by enormous seas, distracted in the tumult.
He mounted it and rode at a gallop to one of the bridges over the Niemen, deafened continually by incessant and rapturous acclamations which he evidently endured only because it was impossible to forbid the soldiers to express their love of him by such shouting, but the shouting which accompanied him everywhere disturbed him and distracted him from the military cares that had occupied him from the time he joined the army.
he is much distracted by jealousy, which I am not sorry for, as I know no better support of love.
Yet to be distracted with many is worse; for it makes men to be of the last impression, and full of change.
Then she fled homeward as quickly as she could, torn and bleeding from the wounds of thorns and briars, but more lacerated in mind, and threw herself upon her bed, distracted.