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# distract

verb (distract, distracts, distracted, distracting)

«distract» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To take someone's attention away from what they should be doing or looking at. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#m1)
2. To make someone stop thinking about something sad or painful by getting them interested in something else. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#m2)

### In the lessons

In school, phones, noise and chatting distract you from learning. In safety, drivers and cyclists must not be distracted; never distract a driver or someone crossing a road, and put your phone away when crossing. Tricksters and pickpockets sometimes distract people to steal. Phrases: «distract someone from», «get distracted», «easily distracted».

### Examples

- The noise outside distracted me from my maths. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#x1)
- Don't distract the bus driver. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#x2)
- I get distracted when the TV is on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#x3)
- Dad distracted the baby with a toy so she stopped crying. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#x4)
- Put your phone away so it won't distract you when you cross the road. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#x5)
- One thief distracted the man while another took his wallet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#x6)
- Try not to distract your partner during the test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#x7)
- He felt puzzled and anxious; so he decided to ride into the country to distract his mind, and sent for his huntsmen and falconers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/#x8)

### Note

Past form: distracted. Noun: distraction. «Distracted» (adjective) = not paying attention. Being distracted near roads or water is a common cause of accidents.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Psalm it means to be so troubled that one's mind is thrown into confusion.

**Interpretation.** The psalmist is so overwhelmed by suffering that his mind reels, yet he still prays, which the tradition reads as faith in the darkest hours.

### Examples

- I am afflicted and at the point of death from my youth up; I have borne Thy terrors, I am distracted. (Writings PSA.88.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/distract/#x1)

### Note

Past form: distracted. Noun: distraction. «Distracted» (adjective) = not paying attention. Being distracted near roads or water is a common cause of accidents.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «distract» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distract/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«distract» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/distract.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «distract» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/distract/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«distract» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/distract.html) on Mova free.