distance
DIHSTNS
Distance (noun) means the amount of space between two points or places. Example: “What is the distance from your house to the nearest bus stop?”
noun
1
The amount of space between two points or places.
"What is the distance from your house to the nearest bus stop?"
"The distance between the two cities is about 300 miles."
"They measured the distance from the house to the road."
2
A lack of closeness or warmth between people; emotional separation.
"He kept a polite distance from his colleagues and rarely shared personal news."
"After the argument, a cold distance settled between the two old friends."
"There had been a growing distance between them for months."
verb
1
To keep oneself apart from someone or something, especially to avoid association with it.
"The company tried to distance itself from the product after customers complained."
"She distanced herself from the group once the gossip began."
"The senator quickly distanced himself from the scandal."
How to use distance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe space between two points, or, more figuratively, emotional coldness or separation between people.
Common pairings
long distance
keep a distance
distance oneself from
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Word forms
- Plural
- distances
- Third person singular
- distances
- Past tense
- distanced
- Archaic forms
- distancest, distancedst, distanceth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
What is the _____ from your house to the nearest bus stop?
Etymology
From Old French destance, from Latin distantia, from distare ("to stand apart"), from dis- + stare ("to stand").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for distance
See all rhymes for distance →Frequently asked questions
What does “distance” mean?
The word “distance” means the amount of space between two points or places. In plain terms, the space between two points, or, more figuratively, emotional coldness or separation between people.
How do you pronounce “distance”?
“Distance” is pronounced DIHSTNS (/ˈdɪst(ə)n(t)s/ in IPA).
How do you use “distance” in a sentence?
Here is “distance” used in a sentence: “The distance between the two cities is about 300 miles.”
What part of speech is “distance”?
Depending on how it is used, “distance” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “distance” come from?
The word “distance” comes from Latin. From Old French destance, from Latin distantia, from distare ("to stand apart"), from dis- + stare ("to stand").
Is “distance” a common word?
“Distance” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “distance” have?
“Distance” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the amount of space between two points or places.
What is the difference between distance and displacement?
Distance is the total length of the path actually travelled, regardless of direction, and is always positive. Displacement is the straight-line gap from start to finish, together with its direction. Walk around a block back to your door and your distance is large but your displacement is zero.
How is distance measured?
Distance is measured in units of length such as metres and kilometres, or miles and feet. Short distances use rulers or tape measures; longer ones use tools like odometers, and very large ones use methods such as GPS, radar, or, in astronomy, the time light takes to travel.
What is the difference between distance and length?
The two are closely related and often measured in the same units. Length usually describes how long a single object is, from one end to the other. Distance describes the space separating two different points or places. A rope has a length; the space between two towns is a distance.
Can distance be negative?
No. Distance measures how much space lies between two points, and that amount is always zero or positive — you cannot travel a negative length. Direction is not part of it. If you need to capture direction, and therefore possible negative values, the quantity you want is displacement.
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