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distracted

adj. · v.
US //dɪˈstɹæktəd// UK //dɪstɹˈæktɪd// dis·tract·ed
  1. 1 unable to focus (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    unable to pay attention to something because you are thinking about other things.

    having the attention diverted from a primary task or focus; preoccupied with secondary thoughts or stimuli.

    Example

    He was so distracted by his phone that he missed his bus stop.

    Example

    The student appeared increasingly distracted during the lecture, frequently glancing at the clock and doodling in the margins of her notebook.
    Pitfall
    I was distracted from the loud noise.
    I was distracted by the loud noise.

    Use 'by' to indicate the cause of the distraction; use 'from' to indicate the task you stopped doing.

  2. 2 extremely upset (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary

    very worried or upset, often so much that you cannot think clearly.

    mentally or emotionally agitated to the point of being unable to function normally; synonymous with distraught.

    Example

    The family was distracted with grief after hearing the terrible news.

    Example

    In the final act of the play, the distracted king wanders the cliffs, his mind broken by the betrayal of his daughters.
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  1. 3 past action of diverting attention (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the past tense of 'distract', meaning you took someone's attention away from something.

    the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'distract', meaning to draw away the mind or attention.

    Example

    The bright lights distracted the driver for a few seconds.

    Example

    The sudden commotion in the hallway distracted the board members from the financial presentation, causing a significant delay in the vote.

    Usage

    As a verb, it is transitive and requires an object.

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