long distance

¹ American  

noun

1. telephone service between distant places.

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long-distance ² American  

[lawng-dis-tuhns, long-] / ˈlɔŋˈdɪs təns, ˈlɒŋ- /

adjective

1. of, from, or between distant places.

   a long-distance phone call.

2. for, over, or covering long distances.

   a long-distance runner.

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adverb

1. by long-distance telephone.

   to call someone long-distance.

long-distance British  

noun

1. (modifier) covering relatively long distances

   a long-distance driver

2. (modifier) (of telephone calls, lines, etc) connecting points a relatively long way apart

3. a long-distance telephone call

4. a long-distance telephone system or its operator

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adverb

1. by a long-distance telephone line

   he phoned long-distance

Etymology

Origin of long distance¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Origin of long-distance²

First recorded in 1880–85

Explanation

Something long-distance occurs between two points that are very far away from each other. A long-distance truck driver has a route that takes her many miles from one city to another. A long-distance phone call is one that you make between two distant places, like Kansas City and Mumbai; and a long-distance relationship is one in which the two people live in different cities, like Seattle and Dallas. A long-distance runner, as opposed to a sprinter, takes part in marathons and other long races. In 1884, this adjective first began describing telephone calls — it's since become less common to use it this way.

Example Sentences

The two sides remain a long distance apart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

These two long distance neutrino projects are among the most sophisticated of their kind.

From Science Daily • Mar. 3, 2026

He is also shooting a career-low 30.9% from three after shooting 42.3% from long distance last season.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026

"Everything just felt natural - from being friends, to dating, to moving in together, even doing long distance."

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2025

My hands were trembling, my breath rasping as if I had run a long distance or come upon a coiled snake in a busy street.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison