distance Definition
- 1the amount of space between two places or things
- 2the fact of not being near in time or relationship
Using distance: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "distance" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The distance between New York and Los Angeles is about 2,800 miles.
Example
There was a distance of several years between their two meetings.
Example
The distance from the Earth to the Moon is about 238,855 miles.
Example
The distance between the two buildings is only a few feet.
distance Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for distance
- space
- gap
- interval
- separation
- remoteness
Antonyms for distance
- closeness
- proximity
Idioms Using distance
at a distance
not close to someone or something
Example
He watched the parade from a distance.
distance oneself from something
to create emotional or physical separation from something
Example
She distanced herself from her former colleagues after the scandal.
distance runner
a person who runs long distances as a sport or for exercise
Example
He's a distance runner and has completed several marathons.
Phrases with distance
keep one's distance
to stay away from someone or something
Example
I try to keep my distance from people who are sick.
go the distance
to continue doing something until it is finished or until you have achieved what you wanted to achieve
Example
She's determined to go the distance and finish the race.
distance learning
a way of studying where lectures are broadcast or lessons are conducted over the internet, rather than students attending classes in person
Example
Due to the pandemic, many universities have switched to distance learning.
Origins of distance
from Latin 'distantia', meaning 'a standing apart'
Summary: distance in Brief
The term 'distance' [ˈdɪstəns] refers to the amount of space between two places or things, or the fact of not being near in time or relationship. It can be used to describe physical measurements like 'The distance between New York and Los Angeles is about 2,800 miles,' or emotional separations like 'She distanced herself from her former colleagues after the scandal.' The phrase 'go the distance' means to continue doing something until it is finished or until you have achieved what you wanted to achieve.
