distracted
Americanadjective
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having the attention diverted.
She tossed several rocks to the far left and slipped past the distracted sentry.
-
rendered incapable of behaving, reacting, etc., in a normal manner, as by worry, remorse, or the like; irrational; disturbed.
adjective
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bewildered; confused
-
mad
Other Word Forms
- distractedly adverb
- distractedness noun
- nondistracted adjective
- nondistractedly adverb
- undistracted adjective
- undistractedly adverb
- undistractedness noun
Etymology
Origin of distracted
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For a team with everything to play for, the Kings looked distracted and disinterested.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026
But when the basement lights were off and the others were distracted, a four-year-old could hide on the stairs and peep over the railing to see all of “Titanic,” rated PG-13 by the way.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Maybe we need a 3D-animated remake of “Dr. Strangelove” to convince today’s distracted generations that nuclear bombs are not an aesthetic.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
Maybe we need a 3D-animated remake of “Dr. Strangelove” to convince today’s distracted generations that nuclear bombs are not an aesthetic.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
“Though you seem to be baffled by the clues to our current case, Nell, and that surprises me. Perhaps you were too distracted tracking down your daddy’s story to pay close attention to this one.”
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.