distance

1 of 3

noun

dis·​tance ˈdi-stən(t)s 

1

: the quality or state of being distant: such as

a

: spatial remoteness

quite a distance between the two hospitals

b

: personal and especially emotional separation

feels a distance from her brother that wasn't there before

also : reserve, coldness

c

: difference, disparity

the distance between the two philosophies

2

a(1)

mathematics : an extent of area or an advance (see advance entry 2 sense 1) along a route measured in a straight line

measure the distance between point A and point B

the distance between the Earth and the Sun

(2)

: an extent of space measured other than linearly

within walking distance

b

: separation (see separation sense 2b) in time

spanning the distance of several centuries

c(1)

: length of a race or contest

won both the 400 meter and the 800 meter distances

(2)

: the full length (as of a prizefight or ball game)

(3)

: a long race

distance training

d

: an extent of advance from a beginning

… they carried Puritanical severity quite a distance.

—John Gould

e

: expanse

A distance of field, woods, and diluted November sky …

—Elizabeth Bowen

f

mathematics : the degree or amount of separation between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects

3

: a distant point or region

gazed out into the distance

4

a

: capacity to observe dispassionately

b

fine arts : aesthetic distance

5

obsolete : discord

see also:

go the distance

distance

2 of 3

verb

distanced; distancing

transitive verb

1

: to make or maintain a personal or emotional separation from : to place or keep at a distance

able to distance themselves from the tragedy

distances herself from her coworkers

2

: to leave far behind : outstrip

easily distanced the other candidates in the race

distance

3 of 3

adjective

: taking place via electronic media linking instructors and students who are not together in a classroom

distance learning

distance education

Synonyms of distance

Noun

• length
• width
• spacing
• height
• way
• stretch

Examples of distance in a Sentence

Noun

What is the distance between the Earth and the Sun?

The gas station is a short distance away.

Speed is measured in time and distance.

She kept the children a safe distance from the road.

The sign was hard to read from a distance.

We followed them at a distance.

She feels a distance from her brother that wasn't there before.

Although they were once good friends, there was now considerable distance between them.

He wants to put distance between himself and his former boss.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bernstein plays with that distance like a telephone cord wrapped around her fingers, and Eleni — played by the excellent newcomer Cemre Paksoy, powerfully helpless — only frays even more as the receiver is brought near the hook. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 July 2026

Developed by the Hypersail tech team in Maranello, the energy management system is designed to harvest power from the surrounding environment as efficiently as possible to ensure there is enough juice for long-distance cruising. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 July 2026

Verb

Maddox was the first to distance himself from Brad Pitt, following an incident that occurred during a private flight in 2016, an episode Jolie has suggested was the tipping point for her eventual divorce. — Amaia Odriozola, Vanity Fair, 11 July 2026

Two of those companies responded to ABC News' requests for comment and distanced themselves from the Freedom Fuel Network. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Adjective

Doug Mayer, an American who operates the Run the Alps trail running tour business out of Chamonix, said the PTL is closer to a mountaineering adventure than a typical ultra-distance trail running race. — Brian Metzler, Outside Online, 24 Aug. 2022

At one point, the former employee said, Johnson called out the employee and a mid-distance runner in front of the team during a training session inside the Moshofsky Center, the school’s indoor practice facility. — Ken Goe For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 2 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see distant

Verb

see distant

Adjective

see distant

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Verb

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1970, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing distance

• aesthetic distance
• at a distance of
• by some distance
• distance education
• distance learning
• go the distance
• hailing distance
• hyperfocal distance
• in the distance
• keep at a distance
• keep one's distance
• last the distance
• long-distance
• mean distance
• middle distance
• physical distance
• physically distance
• shouting distance
• social distance
• socially distance
• some distance
• spitting distance
• stopping distance
• striking distance
• within hearing distance
• within/in walking distance
• within spitting distance

Rhymes for distance

• assistance
• consistence
• desistance
• existence
• insistence
• persistence
• resistance
• subsistence
• coexistence
• nonexistence
• magnetoresistance

Kids Definition

distance

1 of 3 noun

dis·​tance ˈdis-tən(t)s 

1

a

: separation in time

b

: the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects

c

: the full length

go the distance

2

: the quality or state of being not friendly : reserve

3

: a distant point or place

a light seen in the distance

distance

2 of 3 verb

distanced; distancing

1

: to make or keep an emotional separation from

2

: to leave far behind

distance

3 of 3 adjective

: taking place using electronic media that links instructors and students who are not together in a classroom

distance learning