distraction
Americannoun
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the act of distracting.
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the state of being distracted. distracted.
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mental distress or derangement.
That child will drive me to distraction.
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that which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration.
The distractions of the city interfere with my studies.
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that which amuses, entertains, or diverts; amusement; entertainment.
Fishing is his major distraction.
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division or disorder caused by dissension; tumult.
noun
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the act or an instance of distracting or the state of being distracted
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something that serves as a diversion or entertainment
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an interruption; an obstacle to concentration
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mental turmoil or madness
Etymology
Origin of distraction
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin distractiōn-, stem of distractiō “separation”; equivalent to distract + -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Confirming his resignation on X, the Labour MP said he had "become a distraction from this government's important work".
From BBC
The sounds that invaded his New York City apartment—construction, idling trucks, car alarms—drove him to distraction.
Nevertheless, I was desperate for a good distraction.
From Los Angeles Times
The news-reading public used spirit gossip, spirit cartoons, and spirit love stories as distractions from the realization that there seemed to be no peaceful way forward on the increasingly heated issue of slavery’s expansion.
From Literature
"I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions," he said.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
