Word
distracted
Phoneticsdis·tract·ed, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈstɹæktəd/
UK/dɪstɹˈæktɪd/
Definitions
01unable to focus
B1 · Intermediate
adj. unable to pay attention to something because you are thinking about other things.
adj. having the attention diverted from a primary task or focus; preoccupied with secondary thoughts or stimuli.
“He was so distracted by his phone that he missed his bus stop.”
“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.
Synonyms
02extremely upset
C2 · Proficiency Literary
adj. very worried or upset, often so much that you cannot think clearly.
adj. mentally or emotionally agitated to the point of being unable to function normally; synonymous with distraught.
“The family was distracted with grief after hearing the terrible news.”
“In the final act of the play, the distracted king wanders the cliffs, his mind broken by the betrayal of his daughters.”
Synonyms
03past action of diverting attention
B1 · Intermediate
v. the past tense of 'distract', meaning you took someone's attention away from something.
v. the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'distract', meaning to draw away the mind or attention.
“The bright lights distracted the driver for a few seconds.”
“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.
Synonyms
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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