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.

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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

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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.

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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 diplomat based in Bissau said Horta N'Tam appeared determined to remain a central political figure while creating distance from Embalo.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

If a planet doesn't have an atmosphere, its star-facing, day side should be as hot as theoretically possible based on how reflective its surface is and its distance from the star.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

He supports modernizing the airport but is worried widening the distance between the taxiway and runway will welcome bigger planes filled with more passengers, adding congestion to Aspen’s already-clogged roads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The paper adds that the monarch has "appeared keen to distance himself from his brother's decision to sue the police", which could costs hundreds of thousands of pounds.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

I shaded my eyes and looked across the valley to see the cliffs in the distance and the tree that sheltered Patrick’s Well.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

The sharks were also most sensitive to lower frequency sounds, which they detected from greater distances and at lower sound levels.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

The planes flying longer distances are also getting a dedicated premium economy section called Premium Reserve, with seats and in-flight dining that are a step up from the airline’s existing extra legroom offering.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

The method converts the distances between events into a single measurement called an SVM score.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

"As with microscopy, higher energies mean smaller wavelengths, allowing one to probe smaller distances."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

The distances between islands of the Tongan archipelago, as well as the distances between Tonga and neighboring archipelagoes, were sufficiently modest that a multi-island empire encompassing 40,000 people was eventually established.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

The company distanced itself from Carlson and called his characterizations unscientific.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

With Cerimedo’s name now toxic, Paz, Milei and other former allies have distanced themselves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

While El-Sayed never said those words and has since distanced himself from Piker, Vance repeatedly linked the two together during his speech.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

El-Sayed subsequently distanced himself, issuing a statement Monday calling anti-Semitism a "scourge."

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 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

Kim’s campaign pushed back on the notion that she is distancing herself from Trump, calling it “completely absurd.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

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

McIntosh told BBC Wales that he was also distancing himself from the comment.

From BBC ● 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

And the more he heard about the school district distancing themselves from what had happened, the more certain he was that nothing would ever be fixed.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

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