Distract (Verb)
Meaning 1
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".
Classification
Verbs of feeling.
Examples
- The disturbing images on the news distract me from falling asleep at night.
- Her brother's diagnosis of a serious illness began to distract and worry her every waking moment.
- The constant car alarms in the neighborhood distract my studying with their incessant noise.
- Witnessing the accident scene distract her with the haunting memories for years to come.
- Rumors of layoffs distract employees with anxiety about their job security.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Draw someone's attention away from something; "The thief distracted the bystanders"; "He deflected his competitors".
Classification
Verbs of feeling.
Examples
- The traffic noise distracted the students from their studying.
- To distract the security guard, one of the robbers set off the fire alarm.
- Her constant questions began to distract the teacher from the lesson plan.
- The magician used a puff of smoke to distract the audience during the trick.
- The politician's speech was designed to distract from the real issue at hand.