What does distraction mean?
Definitions for distraction
dɪˈstræk ʃəndis·trac·tion
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word distraction.
Princeton's WordNet
distractionnoun
mental turmoil
"he drives me to distraction"
distractionnoun
an obstacle to attention
beguilement, distractionnoun
an entertainment that provokes pleased interest and distracts you from worries and vexations
distraction, misdirectionnoun
the act of distracting; drawing someone's attention away from something
"conjurers are experts at misdirection"
Wiktionary
distractionnoun
Something that distracts.
Poking one's eye is a good distraction from a hurting toe.
distractionnoun
The process of being distracted.
We have to reduce distraction in class if we want students to achieve good results.
distractionnoun
Perturbation; disorder; disturbance; confusion.
distractionnoun
Mental disorder; a deranged state of mind; insanity.
The incessant nightmares drove him to distraction.
Etymology: See to distract.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Distractionnoun
Etymology: distractio, Latin.
While he was yet in Rome,
His power went out in such distractions as
Beguil’d all spies. William Shakespeare, Anthony and Cleopatra.Never was known a night of such distraction;
Noise so confus’d and dreadful; jostling crowds,
That run, and knew not whither. John Dryden, Spanish Fryar.What may we not hope from him in a time of quiet and tranquillity, since, during the late distractions, he has done so much for the advantage of our trade? Joseph Addison, Freeholder.
The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents expiring together, would have melted the hardest heart. Tatler.
Madam, this is a meer distraction:
You turn the good we offer into envy. William Shakespeare, H. VIII.So to mad Pentheus double Thebes appears,
And furies howl in his distemper’d ears:
Orestes so, with like distraction tost,
Is made to fly his mother’s angry ghost. Edmund Waller.Commiserate all those who labour under a settled distraction, and who are shut out from all the pleasures and advantages of human commerce. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.
The two armies lay quiet near each other, without improving the confusion and distraction which the king’s forces were too much inclined to. Edward Hyde, b. viii.
Wikipedia
Distraction
Distraction is the process of diverting the attention of an individual or group from a desired area of focus and thereby blocking or diminishing the reception of desired information. Distraction is caused by: the lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. Distractions come from both external sources, and internal sources. External distractions include factors such as visual triggers, social interactions, music, text messages, and phone calls. There are also internal distractions such as hunger, fatigue, illness, worrying, and daydreaming. Both external and internal distractions contribute to the interference of focus.
Webster Dictionary
Distractionnoun
the act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation
Distractionnoun
that which diverts attention; a diversion
Distractionnoun
a diversity of direction; detachment
Distractionnoun
state in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity
Distractionnoun
confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions
Distractionnoun
agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair
Distractionnoun
derangement of the mind; madness
Freebase
Distraction
Distraction is the divided attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction. Distraction is caused by: the lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. Distractions come from both external sources, and internal sources.
Suggested Resources
Distraction
Destruction vs Distraction -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Destruction and Distraction.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of distraction in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of distraction in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of distraction in a Sentence
I'm going to let my attorney -- a small one-man shop in Philadelphia -- handle this matter. It's obviously going to be important to my constituents that this matter not be a distraction in terms of my work, and I'm going to try to have it not be a distraction.
It is unfortunately a needless distraction for me. Now I'll be spending time answering to the regulator and stock exchange on what happened.
Russia has been the leader in using new technologies to attack targets in covert and confusing ways. Russia is an active leader in what strategists are calling the gray zone of warfare attacks in the gray zone between war and peace, attacking U.S. diplomats in Cuba and China are likely experimentation with this weapon but also serves the political interests of antagonizing U.S. relations with Cuba and China and creates fear, disruptionand distraction among U.S. diplomats and officials.
I think that Wendi doing what she did served as enough of a distraction that maybe Phil Davis didn't see us, i absolutely think that Wendi Winters saved my life.
Samantha Smith was a positive outlet for me, i was going through a terrible time with a lot of transitions in my life personally, and Rae was a very positive distraction from a lot of things that were taking place in my life. Samantha Smith's actually the one who saved me. I could focus on Samantha Smith to take care of Samantha Smith to love and get love back, and Samantha Smith was that for me, and kind of that's why Samantha Smith means so much to me.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for distraction
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- разсейване, развлечение, отвличанеBulgarian
- distraccióCatalan, Valencian
- AblenkungGerman
- περισπασμόςGreek
- distracciónSpanish
- häiriö, häiriötekijäFinnish
- distractionFrench
- distracciónGalician
- gangguan, pengalihIndonesian
- 逆上Japanese
- pīroiroiMāori
- distração, distracçãoPortuguese
- отвлечениеRussian
- distraktionSwedish
- ความว้าวุ่นใจThai
Get even more translations for distraction »
Translation
Find a translation for the distraction definition in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"distraction." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 28 May 2023. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/distraction>.
Discuss these distraction definitions with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In