distracted

adjective

dis·​tract·​ed di-ˈstrak-təd How to pronounce distracted (audio)
1
: having one's thoughts or attention drawn away : unable to concentrate or give attention to something
a distracted driver
… everyone else … is too distracted to see how lost and yearning she has become …Richard Schickel
… used to get so distracted by cellphone conversations overheard on the bus that she couldn't focus on reading.Roni Caryn Rabin
2
: harassed, confused, or disturbed especially by strong feelings
a mind distracted by grief
… putting that poor gentleman through a course of questions that nearly drove him distracted.Louisa May Alcott
distractedly adverb
distractedness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for distracted

abstracted, preoccupied, absent, absent-minded, distracted mean inattentive to what claims or demands consideration.

abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

absent-minded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absent-minded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

Examples of distracted in a Sentence

If you're feeling distracted, take a break. she's been distracted about her son ever since he left on that polar expedition
Recent Examples on the Web The flights can also be voice-controlled by the (distracted) driver. Carlton Reid, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2024 Number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver per 100,000 city residents: 19% of score. Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 The company has long maintained that drivers must control their cars and that Tesla is not liable for distracted or drunken driving. Talia Trackim, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 This isn’t just about a few distracted individuals; this is symptomatic of a much larger issue, often tied to poor meeting design and, more broadly, a communication breakdown within the team or organization. Gleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2023 Detroit's rate of fatal crashes involving a distracted driver ranked No. 22 and helped keep the city out of the top spot for worst drivers. Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 Number of fatal car crashes involving a distracted driver per 100,000 city residents: 19% of score. The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024 Number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 The city had the highest number of fatal car accidents involving distracted drivers in the study, 5.42 per 100,000 residents. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of distracted was in 1576

Dictionary Entries Near distracted

Cite this Entry

“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distracted. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on distracted

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