- the act or an instance of distracting or the state of being distracted
- something that serves as a diversion or entertainment
- an interruption; obstacle to concentration
- mental turmoil
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•trac•tion /dɪˈstrækʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the act of distracting or the state of being distracted:[countable]just a distraction to keep us from thinking about the real problem.
- mental distress or derangement:[uncountable]You are driving me to distraction with that music.
- a person or thing that prevents concentration: [countable]The talking in the hallway was a distraction for the students.[uncountable]There was too much distraction at the office.
dis•trac•tion
(di strak′shən),USA pronunciation n.
- the act of distracting.
- the state of being distracted.
- mental distress or derangement:That child will drive me to distraction.
- that which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration:The distractions of the city interfere with my studies.
- that which amuses, entertains, or diverts;
amusement;
entertainment:Fishing is his major distraction. - division or disorder caused by dissension;
tumult.
- Latin distractiōn- (stem of distractiō) separation. See distract, -ion
- Anglo-French)
- late Middle English (1425–75
- 3. madness, lunacy, insanity, craziness.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
distraction /dɪˈstrækʃən/ n
'distraction' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):