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.
VIDEO FOR DISTRACTION
WATCH NOW: What Does "Distraction" Actually Mean?
"Distraction" means your attention is drawn away by other things ... and if social media has anything to say about it we're all pretty susceptible to distractions these days.
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Origin of distraction
1425–75; late Middle English (<Anglo-French ) <Latin distractiōn- (stem of distractiō) separation. See distract, -ion
Turns out, spending a couple of nights surrounding a campfire is exactly the distraction we need right now.
Three Family-Friendly Adventures to Try This Fall|Outside Editors|September 17, 2020|Outside Online
When I’m thinking, brainstorming, and writing, I turn the Wi-Fi off to limit the distraction and force me to focus.
17 extremely useful productivity tips from this year’s 40 Under 40|Maria Aspan|September 6, 2020|Fortune
“Presumably, you don’t have internet, you’re not online, you’re not watching TV,” she says, adding that without those distractions, you may find yourself itching to put together a real meal.
The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Camp Cooking|AC Shilton|September 5, 2020|Outside Online
Also, you may realize we did not put out a Rocket Report last week—this is because the threat of Hurricane Laura provided an unexpected but significant distraction to the author.
Rocket Report: Musk updates Super Heavy plan, China to launch spaceplane?|Eric Berger|September 4, 2020|Ars Technica
Cities like the one she lives in are full of distractions, so she likes to stand between two parked cars and do command training to get the dog she’s with to focus on her and ignore whatever’s whizzing by.
The right way to walk your dog|John Kennedy|August 26, 2020|Popular Science
Day by day, it drives people to distraction by diverting energy to mindless legal compliance.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Still others see the presence of guns on campus as a distraction at best, and at worst, a danger.
The Concealed Carry on Campus Movement Shoots Itself in the Foot|Brandy Zadrozny|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Several NFL players, front office staff, and commentators have said that Sam could be a distraction to his team.
UMass’ Derrick Gordon Makes History as the First Openly Gay Player in DI Men’s College Basketball|Ben Teitelbaum|April 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The show has been accused of peddling the kind of tawdry sentiment that has driven the inhabitants of Detroit to distraction.
The Art of Urban Destruction|Nico Hines|March 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it was a distraction from what should have been the main attraction — the athletes and the events.
The Good, the Bad, and the Pink Eye|Brett Singer|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Distraction gave him supernatural strength, and her weight seemed that of a child.
Recreations of Christopher North, Volume I (of 2)|John Wilson
I don't for a moment wish to judge you or others; you apparently enjoy it, and it is a distraction from our serious work.
A Knight of the White Cross|G.A. Henty
Distraction seized the unhappy wife; and the infamous cause of this dreadful calamity fled his country.
The Sylph, Volume I and II|Georgiana Cavendish
Mistress, don't be jealous, but he loved that lady to distraction; I know it for a fact.
The Professor|(AKA Charlotte Bronte) Currer Bell
Such women exploit passion for vanity, for distraction, or for the primal male-instinct of subjugation.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction|Arabella Kenealy
British Dictionary definitions for distraction
distraction
/ (dɪˈstrækʃən) /
noun
the act or an instance of distracting or the state of being distracted
something that serves as a diversion or entertainment