distraction
noun
dis·trac·tion
di-ˈstrak-shən 
1
: something that distracts : an object that directs one's attention away from something else
turned off her phone to limit distractions
One created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.
2
: the act of distracting or the state of being distracted
especially
: mental confusion
driven to distraction by their endless chatter
Synonyms
Examples of distraction in a Sentence
It was hard to work with so many distractions.
One of them created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.
A weekend at the beach was a good distraction from her troubles.
Their endless chatter drove her to distraction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Its secure in-ear fit and active noise cancellation (ANC) help block out distractions, while the H1 chip enables features like Spatial Audio and hands-free Siri.
—
Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
To combat distractions, use time blocking and stagger thinking time within teams.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Calm and the San Diego Zoo are providing a peaceful distraction on Election Day with cute animal videos.
—Kate Murphy, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
The Switch, both a handheld and TV-compatible device, became a must-have distraction among all age groups during the Covid pandemic, but buzz around the console is fading.
—Chris Morris, Fortune Asia, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distraction 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
To combat distractions, use time blocking and stagger thinking time within teams.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Calm and the San Diego Zoo are providing a peaceful distraction on Election Day with cute animal videos.
—Kate Murphy, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
The Switch, both a handheld and TV-compatible device, became a must-have distraction among all age groups during the Covid pandemic, but buzz around the console is fading.
—Chris Morris, Fortune Asia, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distraction
Dictionary Entries Near distraction
Cite this Entry
“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distraction. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distraction
noun
dis·trac·tion
dis-ˈtrak-shən
1
: the act of distracting : the state of being distracted
especially
: mental confusion
2
a
: something that makes it hard to pay attention
Medical Definition
distraction
noun
dis·trac·tion
dis-ˈtrak-shən
1
a
: diversion of the attention
b
: mental confusion
2
: excessive separation (as from improper traction) of fracture fragments
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