Meaning & use
distant
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Far away in space, so that it takes a long way to reach.
Grammar: Before a noun or after a verb; often with from: a village distant from the city.
Patterns
- distant from something
We could see distant mountains from the train window.
The sound of a distant siren faded.
The island is distant from the mainland.
adjectivecomparable
Far away in time, either in the past or the future.
Grammar: Often in phrases like the distant past.
In the distant past, the valley was a lake.
Retirement felt like a distant dream.
Dinosaurs lived in the distant past.
adjectivebefore a noun
Related only slightly, as with a family member or a likeness.
Grammar: Used for relatives and comparisons: a distant cousin.
Patterns
- distant relative
She is a distant cousin on my mother's side.
The language is a distant relative of Latin.
His story bears only a distant resemblance to the truth.
adjectivecomparablefigurative
Cool and unfriendly in manner, or seeming to be thinking of something else.
Grammar: Describes people or their expression: she seemed distant.
He has been distant since the argument.
Her distant look told me she wasn't listening.
The manager was polite but distant.
Word forms
| comparative | more distant |
|---|---|
| superlative | most distant |
Common combinations
- distant relative
- A distant relative left them a small farm.
- distant memory
- The trip is now a distant memory.
- in the not-too-distant future
- We hope to move in the not-too-distant future.
- distant past
- The tradition goes back to the distant past.
- distant galaxy
- Astronomers photographed a distant galaxy.
- distant look
- She had a distant look in her eyes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- remote
- Remote stresses isolation and hard access, while distant simply means far in space or time.
- far-off
- Far-off is more informal and common in storytelling.
- aloof
- Aloof describes a person who stays emotionally apart, whereas distant can also refer to place.
- cool
- Cool describes a chilly manner, but distant also suggests being out of reach.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: distant or disinterested? distant or distinct?
distant vs disinterested
Disinterested means unbiased, not distant; it is a different idea from being emotionally cool.
distant vs distinct
Distinct means clearly separate or noticeable, not far away.
Practice
Aunt Rosa is only a ____ relative, so we meet once every few years.
Choose one answer.
A distant relative is someone related only slightly. Distinct means clearly different, distinctive means characteristic, and far-fetched means unlikely.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “distant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.