# distract

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈstɹækt/ · frequency rank #11,023

## Definitions
1. To divert the attention of.
2. To divert (attention).
3. To make crazy or insane; to drive to distraction.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin distractus, from distrahō (“to pull apart”), from dis- + trahō (“to pull”).

## Easily confused with
- **district** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/distract-vs-district)
- **distrust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/distract-vs-distrust)
- **districts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/distract-vs-districts)
- **distracted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/distract-vs-distracted)
- **distant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/distant-vs-distract)
- **detract** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detract-vs-distract)
- **distinct** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/distinct-vs-distract)
- **disgrace** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disgrace-vs-distract)
- **destruct** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/destruct-vs-distract)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ddistract`, `disrtact`, `disstract`, `distarct`, `distracct`, `distractt`, `distratc`, `distrcat`, `distrract`, `disttract`, `ditsract`, `dsitract`, `idstract`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/distract