distance
the extent or amount of space between two things, points, lines, etc.
the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another; remoteness.
a linear extent of space: Seven miles is a distance too great to walk in an hour.
an expanse; area: A vast distance of water surrounded the ship.
the interval between two points of time; an extent of time: His vacation period was a good distance away.
remoteness or difference in any respect: Our philosophies are a long distance apart.
an amount of progress: We've come a long distance on the project.
a distant point, place, or region.
the distant part of a field of view: a tree in the distance.
absence of warmth; reserve: Their first meeting in several years was hampered by a certain distance between them.
Music. interval (def. 6).
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.
Mathematics. the greatest lower bound of differences between points, one from each of two given sets.
Obsolete. disagreement or dissension; a quarrel.
to leave behind at a distance, as at a race; surpass.
to place at a distance.
to cause to appear distant.
Idioms about distance
go the distance,
(in horse racing) to be able to run well in a long race.
Informal. to finish or complete something, especially something difficult, challenging, or requiring sustained effort.
keep at a distance, to treat coldly or in an unfriendly manner.
keep one's distance, to avoid becoming familiar or involved; remain cool or aloof.
Origin of distance
1Other words for distance
Other words from distance
- dis·tance·less, adjective
Words Nearby distance
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use distance in a sentence
Clark said masks were optional, as long as six feet of distance was kept, and temperatures were checked.
School Sports Became ‘Clubs’ Amid the Pandemic – Now Two Coaches Are Out | Ashly McGlone | September 17, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoFortunately, sound waves can travel great distances through the ocean, thanks to a curious phenomenon known as the SOFAR Channel, short for Sound Fixing and Ranging.
Underwater earthquakes’ sound waves reveal changes in ocean warming | Carolyn Gramling | September 17, 2020 | Science NewsThey connected the two electron charges with one “effective” charge that varied with distance.
How Mathematical ‘Hocus-Pocus’ Saved Particle Physics | Charlie Wood | September 17, 2020 | Quanta MagazineRichard Barrera, a San Diego Unified trustee, suggested during a town hall that it was actually a silver lining of distance learning that students at Lincoln and elsewhere would have increased access to AP classes.
Morning Report: Lincoln Abruptly Canceled AP Class | Voice of San Diego | September 17, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoIt was here that my girlfriend and I decided we’d go for our first drink after quarantine — mostly because of it being within walking distance and a few Yelp reviews suggesting unusually cheap drinks.
Their leader, Njie, still going by “Dave” during the operation, would stay a safe distance away until the State House was secure.
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country | Jacob Siegel | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST“The level of outside support… has not been sufficient enough for them to distance themselves from al Nusra,” Cafarella said.
ISIS Fight Has a Spy Shortage, Intel Chair Says | Kimberly Dozier | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe younger brother would try everything in his power from a distance to subdue the roaring flames of passion.
Decoding Vincent Van Gogh’s Tempestuous, Fragile Mind | Nick Mafi | December 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHow much distance was there between the two men when Brown was shot?
Ferguson’s Grand Jury Bought Darren Wilson’s Story | Paul Campos | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI was in a long-distance relationship at the time with my high-school boyfriend.
Off went the officers again, some distance to the front, and then back again to their men, and got them on a little further.
distance, the uncertain light, and imagination, magnified it to a high wall; high as the wall of China.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneA lateen sail was visible in the direction of Cat Island, and others to the south seemed almost motionless in the far distance.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinAnd the others, not knowing that he had that day repented, sat at their distance and tried to form no conclusion.
The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxWe see the whole land, even if but at a distance, instead of being limited merely to the spot where our foot treads.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy Fay
British Dictionary definitions for distance
/ (ˈdɪstəns) /
the intervening space between two points or things
the length of this gap
the state of being apart in space; remoteness
an interval between two points in time
the extent of progress; advance
a distant place or time: he lives at a distance from his work
a separation or remoteness in relationship; disparity
geometry
the length of the shortest line segment joining two points
the length along a straight line or curve
the distance the most distant or a faraway part of the visible scene or landscape
horse racing
British a point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post
British any interval of more than 20 lengths between any two finishers in a race
US 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
go the distance
boxing to complete a bout without being knocked out
to be able to complete an assigned task or responsibility
keep one's distance to maintain a proper or discreet reserve in respect of another person
the distant parts of a picture, such as a landscape
middle distance
(in a picture) halfway between the foreground and the horizon
(in a natural situation) halfway between the observer and the horizon
(modifier) athletics relating to or denoting the longer races, usually those longer than a mile: a distance runner
to hold or place at a distance
to separate (oneself) mentally or emotionally from something
to outdo; outstrip
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with distance
see go the distance; keep one's distance; spitting distance.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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