2 syllables: dis, tract. Stress on tract.
dis-TRAKT
/dɪsˈtɹækt/
distract is pronounced dis-TRAKT (/dɪsˈtɹækt/). It has two syllables (dis-tract), with the stress on "tract". Distract means to draw someone's attention away from something or to prevent focus by imposing competing stimuli. It can also describe something that diverts or misleads. In psychology and everyday usage, the verb is common in formal and informal contexts, typically describing a deliberate or accidental diversion of attention.
Distract means to draw someone's attention away from something or to prevent focus by imposing competing stimuli. It can also describe something that diverts or misleads. In psychology and everyday usage, the verb is common in formal and informal contexts, typically describing a deliberate or accidental diversion of attention.
- You’ll often mispronounce distract by rushing the /str/ cluster. To fix: hold a crisp /s/ before the /t/, then smoothly blend into /r/ without a vowel in between. - The middle /æ/ can become a weak schwa in fast speech. Practice by exaggerating the /æ/ in slow tempo, then gradually reduce to a quick but discernible vowel. - End with a clear /kt/ instead of a soft, swallowed stop. Make a light release and avoid turning /t/ into a tap. - If you’re not stressing the second syllable, you’ll sound flat. Remember the stress: dis-TRACT.
"The loud music distracted me from thinking about the deadline."
"She tried to distract the child with a toy so she could finish signing the forms."
"News of the cancellation distracted the team from reviewing the project details."
You pronounce it dis-TRACT with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /dɪˈstrækt/, UK /dɪˈstrækt/, AU /dɪˈstrækt/. Start with /d/ + short i /ɪ/, then /s/ + /t/ cluster, the vowel /æ/ as in cat, and finish with /kt/—a crisp, unreleased end after /t/. Imagine saying “this tract” quickly together: dis- + tract.
Common errors: (1) Placing the stress on the first syllable as dis-TRACT is correct; many learners say /ˈdɪstrækt/ with stress on the first syllable, which sounds flat. (2) Misarticulating the /str/ cluster by inserting a vowel (e.g., /dɪs trækt/ or inserting a break like /dɪs trækt/). (3) Weakening the /æ/ to a schwa /ə/, producing /dɪˈstrəkt/. Correction: keep the /æ/ clear, maintain the /str/ cluster tight, and deliver a crisp /kt/ ending. Practice by saying “this tract” as one fluid unit.
US/UK/AU share /dɪˈstrækt/ with primary stress on the second syllable. Minor differences: US may have slightly tighter /ɪ/ near-diphthong onset in unstressed positions; UK often retains a clearer local /æ/ in non-rhotic contexts, while AU may exhibit more centralized vowel qualities in rapid speech. The rhotics do not alter primary vowel, but vowel length and exact vowel height can shift subtly: US tends toward a lighter /ə/ in fast speech when not stressed, UK may show a firmer /æ/, AU commonly leans toward a more open front /æ/ with quick tempo.
Difficulties come from the onset cluster /dɪs-/ followed by the strong /t/ + /r/ sequence and the /æ/ vowel before the final /kt/. The combination of a consonant cluster after a short vowel, and a final /kt/ without an audible release in rapid speech, creates articulatory timing challenges. Also, the /str/ cluster demands precise tongue positioning: the tip for /s/ and /t/ while the blade forms /r/ color. Focusing on crisp /str/ coordination and final stop-release helps.
Is the ‘a’ in distract a lax or tense vowel in typical pronunciation? Answer: In standard American/UK/AU pronunciation, the /æ/ is a low, near-front lax vowel as in cat; it’s not tense. Some rapid speech may reduce to a near-schwa, but careful speakers keep /æ/ clear to preserve the word’s rhythm and avoid confusion with distract vs distract (as in distract). Emphasize the middle vowel’s openness to maintain strong contrast with /ɪ/ in the first syllable.
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- US: tend toward a brisk, reduced vowel in casual speech; emphasize /æ/ clearly when the word stands alone. - UK: maintain clearer /æ/ and crisper /t/; rhoticity is still not relevant for this word, but you may hear slightly more precise consonant enunciation. - AU: may exhibit a slightly broader vowel for /æ/ and a faster overall tempo; keep the /str/ cluster tight to avoid a blend that reduces intelligibility. In all, keep /d/ + /ɪ/ + /s/ + /t/ + /ræ/ + /kt/ with strong second-syllable emphasis. Use IPA references to monitor vowel quality.
The verb distract derives from Latin distractus, past participle of distrahere, formed from dis- (apart, away) + trahere (to pull, drag). In Classical Latin, distrahere meant to pull in different directions, to scatter, or to draw away. The semantic path moved into Old French as distraire, then into Middle English as dis- + tracten, blending with related words for pulling or drawing away attention. In English, the sense of drawing attention away from something gradually specialized to mean diverting interest, attention, or focus. By the 16th century, the form distract appeared in English medical and philosophical writings to describe diverting attention, and by the 17th–18th centuries it gained broader usage in education, rhetoric, and everyday speech. The word has retained a neutral to negative connotation, depending on context—sometimes implying purposeful interruption and other times mere distraction due to stimuli. The core image remains a pulling away from a focal point toward competing stimuli, with literal roots in the Latin for pulling apart and away. Today, distract is widely used across cognitive psychology, classroom management, workplace communication, and digital media discourse, often paired with strategies to refocus or refocus attention.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "distract" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "distract"
-act sounds
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