Definitions

1. verb

to draw someone’s attention away from something, especially to something else that is more interesting or appealing

“Her phone started ringing, and it began to distract her from the task at hand.”

2. verb

to confuse or disorient someone, especially in order to gain an advantage

“The magician used sleight of hand to distract the audience while he secretly switched the cards.”

3. noun

a person or thing that draws someone’s attention away from something else

“The bright lights of the city can be a big distraction for people who live in rural areas.”

4. verb (transitive)

to cause something to be less effective or less interesting because of something else

“The constant noise of the traffic began to distract from the beauty of the city’s architecture.”