verb

distract

to distract, to divert

The loud music distracted me from my work.

The loud music distracted me from my work.

Don't distract the driver.

Don't distract the driver.

((sb./sth.)) ((from sth.)) to take (sb.'s) attention away from (sth.) The loud music distracted me from my work.

((sb.)) to take (sb.'s) attention away Don't distract the driver.

Synonyms: divert, sidetrack; Antonyms: focus, concentrate

From Latin 'dis-' (apart) and 'trahere' (to draw, pull). It means to 'pull' someone's attention 'apart' or away.

Think of a tractor 'pulling' (tract) your attention 'away' (dis-).

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.