distracted
adjective
dis·tract·ed
di-ˈstrak-təd 
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
Richard Schickel… used to get so distracted by cellphone conversations overheard on the bus that she couldn't focus on reading.—Roni Caryn Rabin
Roni Caryn Rabin2
: 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
Louisa May Alcott
distractedly
adverb
distractedness
noun
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 proper fit will ensure that your pet remains comfortable and doesn’t become distracted by efforts to remove the collar.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 June 2026
The stadium, packed to the brim with more than 82,000 fans, reverberated with stunned murmurs as Morocco’s Ismael Saibari snuck behind a distracted Brazil defense and chipped home a beautiful goal over goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s head to open the scoring in the 22nd minute.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
The problem is distracted drivers.
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Steve Kiefer and Regina Carto Tim Lawlis/CBS Detroit Kiefer, who started the non-profit along with his family, lost his son, Mitchel, in an accident caused by distracted driving 10 years ago.
—Carol Cain, CBS News, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distracted
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Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 June 2026
The stadium, packed to the brim with more than 82,000 fans, reverberated with stunned murmurs as Morocco’s Ismael Saibari snuck behind a distracted Brazil defense and chipped home a beautiful goal over goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s head to open the scoring in the 22nd minute.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
The problem is distracted drivers.
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Steve Kiefer and Regina Carto Tim Lawlis/CBS Detroit Kiefer, who started the non-profit along with his family, lost his son, Mitchel, in an accident caused by distracted driving 10 years ago.
—Carol Cain, CBS News, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distracted. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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