distance

American  

[dis-tuhns] / ˈdɪs təns /

noun

• distances
  plural

1. the extent or amount of space between two things, points, lines, etc.

2. the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another; remoteness.

3. a linear extent of space.

   Seven miles is a distance too great to walk in an hour.

4. an expanse; area.

   A vast distance of water surrounded the ship.

5. the interval between two points of time; an extent of time.

   His vacation period was a good distance away.

6. remoteness or difference in any respect.

   Our philosophies are a long distance apart.

7. an amount of progress.

   We've come a long distance on the project.

8. a distant point, place, or region.

9. the distant part of a field of view.

   a tree in the distance.

10. absence of warmth; reserve.

    Their first meeting in several years was hampered by a certain distance between them.

    Synonyms:

    aloofness, coolness, restraint, remoteness

11. Music. interval.

12. aesthetic distance.

13. Horse Racing. (in a heat race) the space measured back from the winning post that a horse must reach by the time the winner passes the winning post or be eliminated from subsequent heats.

14. Mathematics. the greatest lower bound of differences between points, one from each of two given sets.

15. Obsolete. disagreement or dissension; a quarrel.

---

verb (used with object)

• distances,
  present (3rd person singular)
• distanced,
  past participle,  past
• distancing
  present participle

1. to leave behind at a distance, as at a race; surpass.

2. to place at a distance.

3. to cause to appear distant.

idioms

1. go the distance,

   1. (in horse racing) to be able to run well in a long race.

   2. Informal. to finish or complete something, especially something difficult, challenging, or requiring sustained effort.

2. keep at a distance, to treat coldly or in an unfriendly manner.

3. keep one's distance, to avoid becoming familiar or involved; remain cool or aloof.

distance British  

/ ˈdɪstəns /

noun

1. the intervening space between two points or things

2. the length of this gap

3. the state of being apart in space; remoteness

4. an interval between two points in time

5. the extent of progress; advance

6. a distant place or time

   he lives at a distance from his work

7. a separation or remoteness in relationship; disparity

8. geometry

   1. the length of the shortest line segment joining two points

   2. the length along a straight line or curve

9. the most distant or a faraway part of the visible scene or landscape

10. horse racing

    1. a point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post

    2. any interval of more than 20 lengths between any two finishers in a race

    3. the part of a racecourse that a horse must reach in any heat before the winner passes the finishing line in order to qualify for later heats

11. 1. boxing to complete a bout without being knocked out

    2. to be able to complete an assigned task or responsibility

12. to maintain a proper or discreet reserve in respect of another person

13. the distant parts of a picture, such as a landscape

14. 1. (in a picture) halfway between the foreground and the horizon

    2. (in a natural situation) halfway between the observer and the horizon

15. (modifier) athletics relating to or denoting the longer races, usually those longer than a mile

    a distance runner

---

verb

1. to hold or place at a distance

2. to separate (oneself) mentally or emotionally from something

3. to outdo; outstrip

distance More Idioms  

1. see go the distance; keep one's distance; spitting distance.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• distanceless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• distances
  plural

Participles

• distancing
  present
• distanced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• distance
  simple
• distances
  simple
• have distanced
  perfect
• has distanced
  perfect
• am distancing
  progressive
• are distancing
  progressive
• is distancing
  progressive
• have been distancing
  perfect progressive
• has been distancing
  perfect progressive

Past

• distanced
  simple
• had distanced
  perfect
• was distancing
  progressive
• were distancing
  progressive
• had been distancing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will distance
  simple
• will have distanced
  perfect
• will be distancing
  progressive
• will have been distancing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of distance

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin distantia, from distant- (stem of distāns “standing apart”; see distant) + -ia -y ³; replacing Middle English destaunce, from Anglo-French

Explanation

Distance is an amount of space between things. From a distance, it's hard to tell if someone's wearing a vampire costume or just a chic black outfit. The noun distance usually refers to physical space in between two objects, like the distance between your parking spot and the entrance to the mall. It can also mean an interval in time, like a distance of two years since you graduated. Another meaning of distance is remoteness, like the distance between you and a close friend who doesn't talk to you much these days. The Latin root is distantia, "a standing apart."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

distance distances distanced distancing

This allowed the team to produce an image of the complete molecular orbital and distinguish features that are even smaller than the distance separating the carbon atoms within the molecule.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

They also ventured farther into space than any humans had ever traveled before, setting a new distance record for human spaceflight.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

The Castello d’Albertis-Montegalletto line is called an elevator, or “ascensore,” but its small cabins are a combination of funicular, cable car and outdoor elevator that travel a vertical distance of around 250 feet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

The Open University, which offers distance learning and online courses, says more teenagers than ever are starting courses with it.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

I want to distance myself from the house.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous. Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Such safety considerations are particularly weighty for SUVs and trucks, which have longer stopping distances and can cause more damage during collisions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

"The aim is to... keep the distances travelled on the Rhine as short as possible," transport company Contargo told AFP.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

Baleba's ability to carry the ball over large distances makes him a good player to take advantage of these situations.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

One of the major goals of the second Five-Year Plan was to multiply the number of civil air routes across the USSR, covering extreme distances and connecting the far-flung corners of the huge country.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Soon after, Abehsera, Sazan Real Estate’s chairman, distanced his group from the controversy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

She is reluctant to reflect too much on that time, having distanced herself from thoughts of her homeland for more than a decade, but it is clear that childhood brought "challenges", many, many challenges.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Rakhmon has also distanced himself from the country's Soviet past -- though without openly criticising key ally Russia.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

His first book, “Fresh Off the Boat,” became the longest-running network sitcom centered on an Asian American family, even as Huang publicly distanced himself from the show.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

After my laborious conquest, I've distanced myself a little from the situation, but you mustn’t think my love has cooled.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Much like COVID-era social distancing rules, this will lower the risk of H5N1 transmission by keeping birds separate.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

Nearby, work by Kim’s students from the 1950s demonstrates later distancing from Japanese models through more expressive brushwork.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

On the eve of the election, Sanchez sought to reassure undecided voters and jittery markets, distancing himself from past calls for radical change.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

Another passenger said the cruise staff had asked those on board to maintain social distancing, wear masks inside and sanitise hands frequently.

From BBC ● May 5, 2026

Each time he had given those unsettling warnings, he had been airing out his own trauma, distancing himself from it by reducing it to a cautionary tale.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• area
• gap
• length
• orbit
• radius
• scope
• separation
• size
• space
• span
• stretch
• width