Word
distract
Phoneticsdis·tract, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈstɹækt/
UK/dɪstɹˈækt/
Definitions
01to divert attention
B1 · Intermediate
v. to stop someone from concentrating on something by making them look at or listen to something else.
v. to divert the attention of a person or group from their current focus or activity.
日本語:散らす※
“Please stop talking to me while I am driving because it distracts me.”
“The constant notifications on his smartphone served to distract him from the complex data analysis he was attempting to complete.”
Pitfall
The loud music distracted me to my work.
The loud music distracted me from my work.
Use the preposition 'from' to indicate the activity you stopped focusing on.
Antonyms
02to drive to distraction
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to make someone feel very upset, worried, or confused.
v. to agitate or unsettle someone to the point of extreme distress or mental confusion; often used in the passive voice.
“The long delay and the heat were enough to distract even the most patient passengers.”
“He was nearly distracted by grief after the sudden loss of his business partner and the subsequent legal battles.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “distract” in context.
Verb
01. distract the attention from
“The loud construction noise outside distracted my attention from the lecture.”
verb + noun + prep
02. try to distract
“I tried to distract him with a joke so he wouldn't notice the surprise party.”
verb + infinitive
Preposition
03. distract from the task
“Please don't talk to the driver, as it might distract him from the task of driving.”
verb + prep + noun
04. distract with a toy
“The nurse managed to distract the crying toddler with a small plastic toy.”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
05. constantly distract
“Social media notifications constantly distract her while she is trying to study.”
adv + verb
06. easily distract
“Young children are often easily distracted by bright colors and moving objects.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“If a baby becomes restless or distracted during storytime, it's fine to stop reading and move on to something else.” “Others defended the professor, saying the use of AI was not a serious issue and distracted from the argument at hand.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin distractus, from distrahō (“to pull apart”), from dis- + trahō (“to pull”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/distract
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0