Distract
[dɪ'strækt]
Definition
(verb.) draw someone's attention away from something; 'The thief distracted the bystanders'; 'He deflected his competitors'.
Inputed by Laura--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Separated; drawn asunder.
(a.) Insane; mad.
(v. t.) To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin.
(v. t.) To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions; to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the eye; to distract the attention.
(v. t.) To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or of cares; to confound; to harass.
(v. t.) To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden; -- most frequently used in the participle, distracted.
Inputed by Jesse
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. Perplex, confuse, discompose, harass, disturb, disconcert, bewilder, confound, mystify, embarrass.
Checker: Mandy
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Divide, dissipate, dissever, disconcert, discompose, perplex, bewilder,convulse, madden, disturb
ANT:Unite, fix, concentrate, collect, compose
Typist: Xavier
Definition
v.t. to draw in different directions—applied to the mind or attention: to confuse: to harass: to render crazy: to divert.—adj. Distract′ed.—adv. Distract′edly.—n. Distract′edness.—adjs. Distract′ible; Distract′ile (bot.) carried widely apart.—n. Distrac′tion state of being distracted: perplexity: agitation: madness: a diversion.—adj. Distract′ive causing perplexity.
Editor: Rudolf
Examples
- And I'm bound to say Lily DOES distract it: I believe he'd marry her tomorrow if he found out there was anything wrong with Bertha. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- I still loathed my bed in the school dormitory more than words can express: I clung to whatever could distract thought. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Oh,-- the ladies murmured; and Mrs. Archer added, partly to distract her daughter's attention from forbidden topics: Poor Regina! Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- Nay, she seemed to wish to distract my thoughts from the subject: she rose from the floor: Hush! Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- It would distract attention from us, I am sure, she said. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- But, God help me, I am old, and these foul onslaughts distract an aged man's brain. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- As he was trying to think out some plan to distract her attention he heard a wild cry from across the clearing. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- His face became a little distracted. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- In the first instant of alighting, Mrs. Sparsit turned her distracted eyes towards the waiting coaches, which were in great request. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- Not in a land of war and blood, surrounded by hostile neighbours, and distracted by internal factions, can Israel hope to rest during her wanderings. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- He was unable, however, to make his way in, and the maids were too distracted with fear to be of any assistance to him. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- But we have so little time to make so much of, and I have come so far, and am altogether so devoted, and distracted. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- These smearings and scratchings, washings and dashings, being duly performed, the next ceremonial is to cleanse and replace the distracted furniture. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- It had been well, if such vain terrors could have distracted our thoughts from more tangible evils. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Here---- (Terrible, most distracting to the ear, was the strained shout in which the last stanza was given. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Isolated from their connection with the present environment in which individuals have to act, they become a kind of rival and distracting environment. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- While he was struggling with these distracting calls of duty and science he was obliged to go to Washington to see his patent attorney. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- He could walk up and down, free from distracting fancies, praying for himself and for them. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- For with the removal of distracting idols, man's experience becomes the center of thought. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- But if you will come and explain distracting appearances I do not question that you can show your honesty to me. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- He is a lecturer and a consultant, but he does not care for general practice, which distracts him from his literary work. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Your habit of interrupting without having the least thing in the world to say, distracts one. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
Edited by Barton