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personal space

American  

noun

  • personal spaces
    plural
  1. the variable and subjective distance at which one person feels comfortable talking to another.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

There was also a half-mile "quiet wave" swim for those wanting more personal space and fewer crowds and, for the first time, stand-up paddleboarding.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

In a hybrid-work world, the office should be a place that enhances productivity and restoring a sense of personal space would help achieve that.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 2026

For some, withdrawing into a small personal space and lowering expectations seems like a rational, even self-protective, response.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 25, 2025

“Carving out personal space promotes a sense of agency,” Tovar says, “and provides you refuge if you need to get away from the crowd.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2025

“Hey, come back,” Fred said, moving closer to her, claiming personal space.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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