Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for distance on Thesaurus.com 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) .aesthetic distance . 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. Show More
verb (used with object), dis·tanced, dis·tanc·ing. to leave behind at a distance, as at a race; surpass. to place at a distance. to cause to appear distant . Show More
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. Show More
Origin of distance 1250–1300; Middle English <
Latin distantia, equivalent to
distant- (see
distant ) +
-ia -y3 ; replacing
Middle English destaunce <
Anglo-French Related forms dis·tance·less , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for distanced Contemporary Examples of distanced Zhenya, a hair salon owner, who had been a vocal supporter of the protests, now distanced himself from the activists.
Gulen is a former ally of the government who has now distanced himself from the prime minister.
Cooper has distanced herself from the widely panned 2007 movie adaptation, The Seeker.
Netanyahu then distanced himself from the statement (settlement construction is, after all, a unilateral step).
Heritage has distanced itself from Richwine and his dissertation.
Historical Examples of distanced Fortunately the light was failing, and in the dusk I distanced the pack by a dozen yards.
The cuirassier, being heavier, and mounted on a slower horse, was distanced .
He had followed a roe from that forest to the Osenberg, and had distanced all his attendants.
Irene Stanwood has not distanced her so immensely, after all.
But this distanced them all—Steve and Dolly Beekman were going to be married!
British Dictionary definitions for distanced 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 Show More
to hold or place at a distance to separate (oneself) mentally or emotionally from something to outdo; outstrip Show More
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
Word Origin and History for distanced n. late 13c., "quarrel, estrangement, discord, strife," from Old French destance (13c.), from Latin distantia "a standing apart," from distantem (nominative distans ) "standing apart, separate, distant," present participle of distare "stand apart," from dis- "apart, off" (see dis- ) + stare "to stand" (see stet ).
Meaning "remoteness, space between things or places" is late 14c. The figurative sense of "aloofness" is the same as in stand-offish . Phrase go the distance (1930s) seems to be originally from the prize ring, where the word meant "scheduled length of a bout."
Show More
v. 1570s (transitive); 1640s (intransitive), from distance (n.). Related: Distanced ; distancing .
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
The extent of space between two objects or places; an intervening space. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with distanced see go the distance; keep one's distance; spitting distance.
Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
