distract from

USAGE SUMMARY

"distract from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "distract from" to describe when someone or something takes attention or focus away from someone or something else. Example sentence: The loud music distracted from the speaker's words.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They distract from the subject.

The New York Times - Arts

Negotiations won't distract from anything meaningful.

The Washington Post

It can really distract from the face".

The Guardian

Simple mistakes can distract from your message.

Harvard Business Review

Or does it distract from the content of the legislation?

The New York Times - Magazine

That would distract from her primary impulse — to move forward.

The New Yorker

I don't want it to distract from my intention.

The New York Times

He likes chunky glasses that distract from his face.

The New York Times

Or distract from Mr. Romney's moment in the spotlight?

The New York Times

Semiprofessional sports teams on campus distract from the educational mission.

The New York Times - Sports

They knew the pictures would distract from that".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "distract from", ensure that the sentence clearly identifies both the source of the distraction and what is being distracted from for maximum clarity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating what is being overshadowed. Vague references can weaken the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distract from" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. Ludwig examples show its use in indicating how something diverts attention or focus away from another subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "distract from" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the action of diverting attention away from something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When using "distract from", clarity is key; ensure the sentence clearly identifies both the distraction and what is being distracted from. While alternatives like "divert attention from" and "detract from" exist, "distract from" specifically focuses on the diversion of attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divert attention from

Focuses on the action of redirecting attention elsewhere.

draw focus away from

Emphasizes the act of pulling attention away from something.

take the spotlight off

Highlights the removal of prominence or attention.

deflect from

Implies a redirection or avoidance of a specific issue.

draw away from

Emphasizes the act of pulling someone away from a place or thing.

shift attention from

Focuses on changing the direction of focus.

detract from

Highlights the lessening of value or importance.

obscure

Implies making something less clear or noticeable.

draw a red herring

Refers to introducing an irrelevant topic to mislead or confuse.

mislead

Implies intentionally causing someone to have a wrong idea or impression.

FAQs

How can I use "distract from" in a sentence?

Use "distract from" to indicate that something is taking attention away from something else. For example, "The bright colors of the advertisement "distract from" the important message".

What are some alternatives to "distract from"?

You can use alternatives like "divert attention from", "draw focus away from", or "detract from" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "distract away from" instead of "distract from"?

While "distract" can be used with other prepositions, "distract from" is the more common and grammatically preferred construction when indicating that something is taking attention away from something else.

How does "distract from" differ from "detract from"?

"Distract from" typically refers to diverting attention, while "detract from" implies diminishing the value or importance of something. Although they can overlap, the nuance lies in whether the focus is on attention or value.