Word
distraction
Phoneticsdis·trac·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈstɹækʃən/
UK/dɪstɹˈækʃən/
Definitions
01something that diverts attention
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that takes your attention away from what you are supposed to be doing.
n. a thing that prevents someone from giving their full attention to something else.
“I find it hard to work at home because there are so many distractions like the TV and the fridge.”
“The constant pinging of smartphone notifications serves as a major distraction for students attempting to engage with complex academic texts.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02the state of being unfocused
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of being unable to think clearly because your mind is on something else.
n. the state of being distracted; a lack of mental focus or concentration.
“She stared at the page in distraction, unable to remember what she had just read.”
“His distraction was evident during the meeting, as he repeatedly asked colleagues to restate points that had already been clarified.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03extreme agitation
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. a state of being very upset, worried, or confused.
n. extreme mental agitation, distress, or a state of being nearly 'driven mad' by emotion.
“By the end of the long search, the worried parents were driven to distraction.”
“The protagonist's mind was in a state of total distraction as he grappled with the weight of his conflicting loyalties.”
04medical traction
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Medicine Technical
n. a medical technique used to pull bones or joints apart slightly to help them heal.
n. the act of pulling a limb or bone to separate joint surfaces or lengthen a bone.
“The surgeon used distraction to create a small gap in the bone so new tissue could grow.”
“The clinical team monitored the patient daily during the distraction phase of the limb-lengthening procedure to ensure proper callus formation.”
Usage
Often used in orthopedic surgery contexts regarding bone lengthening.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“A bell-to-bell ban may reduce social media pressure and classroom distractions, but teens may also perceive the restriction as limiting their personal freedom.” “In other studies, such a request might be seen as a distraction, and the researchers might discourage it.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French distraction, from Latin distractio. Equivalent to distract + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- 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 Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/distraction