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• middle distance
  middle distance

  noun

  the represented space between the foreground and background in paintings, drawings, etc.
• middle-distance
  middle-distance

  adjective

  athletics relating to or denoting races of a length between the sprints and the distance events, esp the 800 metres and the 1500 metres

middle distance

American  

noun

1. Also called middle plane.  Also called middle ground.  Fine Arts. the represented space between the foreground and background in paintings, drawings, etc.

2. (in track) a race distance ranging from 400 meters or 440 yards to 1 mile.

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middle-distance British  

adjective

1. athletics relating to or denoting races of a length between the sprints and the distance events, esp the 800 metres and the 1500 metres

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noun

1. Also called: middle ground.  part of a painting, esp a landscape between the foreground and far distance

Etymology

Origin of middle distance

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

To the left and right, a dense forest frames the scene, while farther off, in the middle distance, a few lonely plantations and houses can barely be made out.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

So is seemingly everyone else — except Edward, left to stare into the middle distance and wonder what the hell is going on.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2025

It has been especially relevant to athletics, in which South African middle distance runner Caster Semenya - who was born with DSD condition 46 XY 5-ARD - twice won Olympic 800m gold.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2024

“To see this entire world, do this literally: Mold the play into a medium-sized ball, set it before you in the middle distance, and squint your eyes,” she wrote.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2024

Jacob has been spooning the stew slowly into his mouth and staring into the middle distance.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz