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

A few run the vast distance across the sand to try to secure a spot.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

This group’s central experience of the government’s pledge to promote safety and security was instead through its Covid-19 pandemic response: quarantines, social distance and school closings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Located just a short distance from the Gurney’s Montauk Resort, the property is located in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Montauk.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

Earthquakes that rupture closer to the surface can produce stronger shaking than deeper events because the seismic energy has less distance to travel before reaching the ground above.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

“Hop in. The distance is even shorter on wheels.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

“Many are working adults, parents, caregivers, and first-generation students who are rooted in their communities and cannot relocate or commute long distances to earn a degree.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

"Once my men are dropped, they have to roam over large distances to conduct search and rescue," Hawadi said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

That wide view will allow Roman to find rare objects both close to Earth and across enormous cosmic distances.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

"Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience," Reynolds said.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Maps conveyed nothing to Sam’s mind, and all distances in these strange lands seemed so vast that he was quite out of his reckoning.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Davis has since distanced himself from the book, saying he did not write all of it and that parts were fictionalised to sell more copies.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

But they distanced themselves from his political manoeuvres.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

According to Der Spiegel, Ballout told the Berlin court this spring that he had distanced himself from extremist ideology and violence.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Other researchers distanced themselves, criticizing him for being unscientific, but much of white America embraced his ideas and saw him as a spiritual adviser and a genius.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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

The package had arrived only minutes earlier, so it was pretty clear she wanted to scope out her new neighbors, and during a time of social distancing, this was the perfect excuse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 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

Panicking or publicly distancing themselves from the administration would create another problem.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

They had created an investment approach that harnessed their talent for distancing themselves from other people’s convictions; to find such great conviction in themselves was new and uncomfortable.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

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