distance
Americannoun
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the extent or amount of space between two things, points, lines, etc.
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the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another; remoteness.
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a linear extent of space.
Seven miles is a distance too great to walk in an hour.
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an expanse; area.
A vast distance of water surrounded the ship.
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the interval between two points of time; an extent of time.
His vacation period was a good distance away.
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remoteness or difference in any respect.
Our philosophies are a long distance apart.
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an amount of progress.
We've come a long distance on the project.
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a distant point, place, or region.
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the distant part of a field of view.
a tree in the distance.
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absence of warmth; reserve.
Their first meeting in several years was hampered by a certain distance between them.
- Synonyms:
- aloofness, coolness, restraint, remoteness
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Music. interval.
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Horse Racing. (in a heat race) the space measured back from the winning post that a horse must reach by the time the winner passes the winning post or be eliminated from subsequent heats.
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Mathematics. the greatest lower bound of differences between points, one from each of two given sets.
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Obsolete. disagreement or dissension; a quarrel.
verb (used with object)
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to leave behind at a distance, as at a race; surpass.
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to place at a distance.
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to cause to appear distant.
idioms
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go the distance,
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(in horse racing) to be able to run well in a long race.
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Informal. to finish or complete something, especially something difficult, challenging, or requiring sustained effort.
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keep at a distance, to treat coldly or in an unfriendly manner.
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keep one's distance, to avoid becoming familiar or involved; remain cool or aloof.
noun
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the intervening space between two points or things
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the length of this gap
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the state of being apart in space; remoteness
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an interval between two points in time
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the extent of progress; advance
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a distant place or time
he lives at a distance from his work
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a separation or remoteness in relationship; disparity
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geometry
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the length of the shortest line segment joining two points
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the length along a straight line or curve
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the most distant or a faraway part of the visible scene or landscape
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horse racing
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a point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post
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any interval of more than 20 lengths between any two finishers in a race
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the part of a racecourse that a horse must reach in any heat before the winner passes the finishing line in order to qualify for later heats
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boxing to complete a bout without being knocked out
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to be able to complete an assigned task or responsibility
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to maintain a proper or discreet reserve in respect of another person
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the distant parts of a picture, such as a landscape
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(in a picture) halfway between the foreground and the horizon
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(in a natural situation) halfway between the observer and the horizon
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(modifier) athletics relating to or denoting the longer races, usually those longer than a mile
a distance runner
verb
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to hold or place at a distance
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to separate (oneself) mentally or emotionally from something
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to outdo; outstrip
Other Word Forms
- distanceless adjective
Etymology
Origin of distance
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin distantia, from distant- (stem of distāns “standing apart”; distant ) + -ia -y 3; replacing Middle English destaunce, from Anglo-French
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Coco chooses neighborhoods to deploy its bots based on density, prioritizing areas with restaurants clustered together and short delivery distances as well as places where parking is difficult.
From Los Angeles Times
Other Reese family members—H.B. had 16 children, 13 of whom survived into adulthood—wish Brad would do the same; a group of them recently issued a statement distancing themselves from his views.
Mountbatten-Windsor had to publicly distance himself from Epstein, following the latter's conviction in 2008, but Stern acts as a go-between, forwarding documents and intelligence from Andrew.
From BBC
In contrast, COSMOS-74706 was confirmed using spectroscopy, which provides more reliable distance data.
From Science Daily
Nant Gwrtheyrn, the National Welsh Language Centre, which itself occupies what was once a small slate quarrying village, is a short distance down the coast.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
