verb
distract
dih-STRAKT/dɪˈstrækt/
Draw attention away from something.
The playful dog distracts the student from the workbook.
Etymology
The pieces suggest pulling away, and the Latin verb meant drawing in different directions. Distracting people pulls their attention away from its present object toward something else.
In context
Homestar calls strong bad his Doge while trying to distract him from his work
More examples
- A passing truck distracted the driver.
- Don't distract him while he is measuring.
- She used music to distract herself from the wait.
Forms
distract · distracts · distracted · distracting
distraction noun — something drawing attention away
Similar words
- divert
- Turn attention toward something else.
- sidetrack
- Draw away from the main task or subject.