# distract

/dɪˈstɹækt/ (US) · /dɪstɹˈækt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/distract
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to divert attention

verb · CEFR B1

to stop someone from concentrating on something by making them look at or listen to something else.

For teachers: to divert the attention of a person or group from their current focus or activity.

- 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.

### 2. to drive to distraction

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to make someone feel very upset, worried, or confused.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Please do not distract me while I am driving.
- Loud construction noise outside the office continued to distract the employees throughout the afternoon.
- The defense attorney attempted to distract the jury from the physical evidence by focusing on the witness's questionable past.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.