How to Use distract in a Sentence

distract

verb
Definition of distractnext
Synonyms for distractnext
  • I was distracted by a loud noise.
  • The local story distracted attention from news of the war overseas.
  • He was distracted from his studies.
  • You sneak into his room while I distract him.
  • The students are easily distracted, especially when they're tired.
  • And there’s not even the chance of a Taylor Swift cameo to distract you.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2023
  • What to Consider The two-tone tint may be distracting as you get used to them.
    — Douglas Schnitzspahn, Travel + Leisure, 13 Dec. 2023
  • Galante thinks Smoky must have distracted it again and the pair was able to escape into the house, where Galante called 911.
    — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024
  • Anything more would distract from the bold, cold mechanisms of the action.
    — Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 5 July 2023
  • Cool the pan on a wire rack, and try to distract yourself with something else until it’s cooled enough to enjoy.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 6 July 2023
  • The shops at Champs-Élysées only distracted from the longing for my culture for so long.
    — Roxana Becerril, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023
  • And when America is distracted, the world is less safe.
    — Nbc Universal, NBC News, 8 Oct. 2023
  • That means Carmy is distracted and Sydney is left on her own.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2023
  • Whatever blessings come your way, do not let the world around you distract you.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2023
  • The letter had had the paradoxical effect of distracting from the plight of Gazans.
    — Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2023
  • And if someone tries to distract you, keep an eye on your belongings.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2023
  • However, the fan proved to be distracting, and some mild wind distorted the screen in our tests.
    — L.a. Hubilla, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
  • Calling the coroner and others on her drive home gave her purpose and distracted from the pain.
    — Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2023
  • In an attempt to distract Stone during the root canal, her dentist talked all about her work in prisons.
    — Vulture, 11 Nov. 2023
  • Well’s most forthright (and self-aware) lyrics about being distracted by the shiny trappings of fame.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2024
  • Finn, aiming to distract, tries to get Max to chat about childhood memories and the Cubs’ World Series prospects.
    — Maggie Doherty, The New Republic, 16 June 2023
  • Don't get distracted by bigger, flashier cities down the highway.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2023
  • The Motion mode has a delay with its movement, which can be distracting.
    — Geoffrey Morrison, wsj.com, 2 Nov. 2023
  • At home, owners can try distracting a pet with a favorite toy, vets said.
    — Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
  • Sometimes an artist dies, gets distracted or has second thoughts about a work and it is abandoned.
    — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 23 June 2023
  • Mitchell’s mischief helps distract from the deficit of war-on-terror verisimilitude.
    — Bonnie Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
  • More often, though, the show feels distracted by all of its elements.
    — Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 7 Sep. 2023
  • Engage in light exercises or take a walk to help distract your mind.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 2 Sep. 2023
  • Chatting with a neighbor can help distract both of you from turbulence.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023
  • To distract herself, Ann Heaslett, now 60, started reading the backs of other racers’ T-shirts.
    — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'distract.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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