Definitions for distract
dɪˈstræktdis·tract

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. perturb, unhinge, disquiet, trouble, cark, distract, disorder(verb)

   disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

   "She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill"

2. distract, deflect(verb)

   draw someone's attention away from something

   "The thief distracted the bystanders"; "He deflected his competitors"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. distract(Verb)

   To divert the attention of.

   The crowd was distracted by a helicopter hovering over the stadium when the only goal of the game was scored.

   Etymology: From distrahere, from dis- + trahere.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Distract(adj)

   separated; drawn asunder

   Etymology: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]

2. Distract(adj)

   insane; mad

   Etymology: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]

3. Distract(verb)

   to draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin

   Etymology: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]

4. Distract(verb)

   to draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions; to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the eye; to distract the attention

   Etymology: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]

5. Distract(verb)

   to agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or of cares; to confound; to harass

   Etymology: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]

6. Distract(verb)

   to unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden; -- most frequently used in the participle, distracted

   Etymology: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Distract

   dis-trakt′, v.t. to draw in different directions—applied to the mind or attention: to confuse: to harass: to render crazy: to divert.—adj. Distract′ed.—adv. Distract′edly.—n. Distract′edness.—adjs. Distract′ible; Distract′ile (bot.), carried widely apart.—n. Distrac′tion, state of being distracted: perplexity: agitation: madness: a diversion.—adj. Distract′ive, causing perplexity.

How to pronounce distract?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say distract in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of distract in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of distract in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of distract in a Sentence

1. Eric Schneiderman:

   The subpoena brings us one step closer to a protracted, unnecessary legal confrontation, which will only distract and detract from the work of our respective offices.

2. Chuck Schumer:

   Republicans want to force this political stunt to distract from the fact that they neither have a plan nor a sense of urgency to deal with the threat of climate change, everyone knows it's a stunt, including the majority leader himself. He put something on the floor and then votes no. What's the point of that ?

3. President Muhammadu Buhari:

   The recent spate of attacks by militants disrupting oil and power installations will not distract us from engaging leaders in the region in addressing Niger Delta problems.

4. Lisa Murkowski:

   It is important for us around here to make sure that we don't distract from those pragmatic, practical solutions. That we don't amp the rhetoric up so high that we can't get ourselves to a place where we can work cooperatively, collaboratively, to get to these solutions.

5. Paul DePompo:

   He’ll distract himself with porn, drinking, or will overwork himself, he may become hyper-focused on morals in order to minimize the importance of sex, exhibit jealousy or anger regarding other’s happiness, and will tell you his wife does not like sex.

Images & Illustrations of distract

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