distant

adjective

dis·​tant ˈdi-stənt 

1

a

: separated in space : away

a mile distant

b

: situated at a great distance (see distance entry 1 sense 2a) : far-off

a distant galaxy

c

: having a great amount of separation between each other : separated by a great distance from each other : far apart

visiting distant places

distant campuses

d

: far behind

finished a distant third

2

: separated in a relationship other than spatial

a distant cousin

the distant past

3

: different in kind

from two very distant backgrounds

4

: reserved or aloof in personal relationship : cold

was distant and distracted

5

a

: going a long distance

distant voyages

b

: concerned with remote (see remote entry 1 sense 2) things

distant thoughts

distantly adverb

distantness noun

Synonyms

• away
• deep
• far
• faraway
• far-flung
• far-off
• remote
• removed

Examples of distant in a Sentence

In the distant past, dinosaurs roamed the earth.

The day I left home is now a distant memory.

Recent Examples on the Web

As a preschooler, Trent was helping her schizophrenic father King with drug-dealing, while her cold and distant mother, Lady, dealt with her own personality disorders by becoming a recluse in their small trailer, leaving Dana to fend for herself from a very young age. —Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024

These museums all teach the diverse histories of their peoples, from the distant past to the present, to Native and non-Native visitors. —Kathleen Duval, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024

But for planets with moons as small as those of Mars,' the bodies may be either too small or too distant to create a total solar eclipse such as the one fast approaching Earth. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

The idea that people only come to Venice at a specific time of year is part of the distant past. —Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024

According to Masson, surgical care is stuck in the distant past, with all of the work going towards groundbreaking treatments, but almost no focus on the most basic foundational standards that keep the process moving. —Thomas Germain / Gizmodo, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2024

Every direction curved off into a distant haze, blurring the line between heaven and earth. —Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024

The supernatural comedy landed in a distant second place with $15.7 million from 4,345 venues, marking a steep 65% decline from its debut. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 31 Mar. 2024

But more than half of the goods that arrive in Baltimore in a typical year are headed to more distant spots like Chicago, according to John D. Porcari, former Maryland transportation secretary. —David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin distant-, distans, present participle of distare to stand apart, be distant, from dis- + stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing distant

• distant look in someone's eye
• in the not too distant future
• the dim and distant past

Kids Definition

distant

adjective

dis·​tant ˈdis-tənt 

1

a

: separated in space or time : away

b

: being at a great distance : far-off

distant galaxies

c

: far apart

2

: not close in relationship

distant cousin

3

: cold entry 1 sense 2, unfriendly

distantly adverb

distantness noun