Dictionary Definition
distracted adj
1 affected with madness or insanity; "a man who
had gone mad" [syn: brainsick, crazy, demented, disturbed, mad, sick, unbalanced, unhinged]
2 having the attention diverted especially
because of anxiety [syn: distrait]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Verb
distracted- past of distract
Adjective
- having one's attention diverted; preoccupied
- distraught
Translations
having one's attention diverted;
preoccupied
distraught
- Finnish: hermostunut, poissa tolaltaan
Extensive Definition
Distraction is the diversion of attention of an individual or
group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of
distraction. Distraction is caused by one of the following: lack of
ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of
attention; greater interest in something other than the object of
attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of
something other than the object of attention. Distractions come
from both external sources (physical stimuli through the five
senses), or internal sources (thought, emotion, fantasies, physical urges).
Divided attention, as in multi-tasking
could also be considered as distraction in situations requiring
full attention on a single object (e.g., sports, academic tests,
performance). Distraction is a major cause of procrastination.