distracting
Something that's distracting is taking your attention away from what you need to focus on.
When you're trying to do something like study or work, something distracting can pull you off track. This might sound obvious, but things like your phone buzzing with notifications, a friend chatting loudly nearby, or even the view outside the window can all be distracting. Even if it's not necessarily bad, if it takes your mind away from what you're doing, then it's probably distracting.
How common is "distracting"?
Word distracting is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
verb
To divert the attention of.
Example: The crowd was distracted by a helicopter hovering over the stadium when the only goal of the game was scored.
Real examples of "distracting" in context
