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
• far
• deep
• removed
• remote

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

Astronomers compare them to a powerful lighthouse that shines for milliseconds in the middle of a rough, distant sea. —Jorge Garay, Wired News, 23 Aug. 2025

In Sheth’s images, the subjects’ backgrounds appear almost as dreamscapes, or portals to distant universes. —M. Z. Adnan, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2025

Those in wealthier nations had the power to save distant lives. —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

The next-closest competitor, four-time Formula 1 World Championship winner Max Verstappen, is in a distant third with just two wins and five podiums (187 points). —Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for distant

• assistant
• consistent
• existent
• insistent
• persistent
• resistant
• subsistent
• coexistent
• equidistant
• inconsistent
• nonexistent
• preexistent

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