middle distance

Definition of middle distance

1 : a part of a pictorial representation or scene between the foreground and the background

2 : any footrace distance usually from 800 to 1500 meters or from 880 yards to one mile

Examples of middle distance in a Sentence

As I looked out over the water, a small boat appeared in the middle distance.

Recent Examples on the Web The junior middle distance runner was the only returning Metro state champion after recording a stunning 800-meter win as sophomore. — Mitch Stephens, SFChronicle.com, "25 Bay Area high school athletes we miss watching this time of year," 16 May 2020 There's much better visibility out the back than in the 300ZX, which has only a low lip at the base of the rear window but an extremely low roofline back there, creating a major blind spot that hides anything lurking beyond middle distance. — Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, "Comparison Test: 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo Takes On the Best Sports Cars of the Early 1990s," 12 May 2020 The bar would host an annual after-party for the Millrose Games, the Armory’s flagship meet, providing an opportunity for some of the world’s finest middle distance runners to drink too much beer and sing karaoke. — Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, "America's Best Runners' Bar Is Closing," 22 Apr. 2020 In 2007, Webb had run a 3:46.91 mile and rejuvenated American hope in middle distance medals at the 2008 Summer Games. — Chris Chavez, SI.com, "Olympic Silver Medalist Leo Manzano Retires After Accomplished Career," 28 July 2019 For shoes with spikes, used by athletes on the track for short and middle distances, the World Athletics rules permit a second plate or other mechanism, but only for the purpose of attaching the spikes to the sole. — Rachel Bachman, WSJ, "Nike Alphafly Sneakers Will Also Avoid Olympic Ban," 5 Feb. 2020 Sara Hall began her running career as a middle distance specialist and steeplechaser before making her half marathon debut in 2013. — Richard Dean, Houston Chronicle, "Sara Hall finishes as top American woman at Houston half marathon," 19 Jan. 2020 In the women’s middle distance competition at the Games, Chinese orienteers had come close to sweeping the winners podium, with competitors in first, second, and fourth place. — Jasmine Aguilera, Time, "Chinese Orienteering Team Disqualified For 'Extensive Cheating' During Military World Games," 25 Oct. 2019 Often, witnesses stand stiffly and stare into the middle distance as photographers click away. — Robin Givhan, Washington Post, "Lt. Col. Vindman’s uniform spoke loud. His humanity spoke louder.," 19 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'middle distance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

2 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Middle distance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle%20distance. Accessed 10 Jul. 2020.

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