French word

distraire

Pronunciation

IPA/distʁɛʁ/

Meaning

  • verbentertain

Example

Le magicien sait bien distraire le public.

The magician knows how to entertain the audience.

Illustration for distraire (entertain)

More examples

Je préfère écouter un podcast pour me distraire pendant le trajet.

I prefer listening to a podcast to amuse myself during the journey.

Core concept

Attention is pulled away from its current concern and placed in something pleasant or absorbing.

Common phrases

  • distraire l'attention

    divert attention

  • distraire quelqu'un

    amuse someone

  • se distraire

    amuse oneself

Similar words

amuser: To entertain someone in a way that makes them laugh.
s'amuser: To have fun and spend time enjoying oneself.
divertir: To distract someone by turning their attention to something else.
se divertir: To enjoy entertainment and take one's mind off things.

Definition in French

S'amuser, passer le temps agréablement; au sens transitif, occuper ou détourner l'attention de quelqu'un.

Word origin

French distraire descends through Old French from Latin distrahere, formed from dis- meaning 'apart' and trahere meaning 'pull'.

Usage tips

  • The transitive pattern is distraire quelqu'un de quelque chose, with de introducing the matter from which attention is diverted.

Other meanings

  • distractverb
  • distract oneselfverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word