distant
DIHS-tuhnt
Distant (adj) means Far away in space or time. Example: “We heard the distant sound of a train long before it arrived.”
adj
1
Far away in space or time.
"We heard the distant sound of a train long before it arrived."
"They could see a distant mountain range on the horizon."
"In the distant future, space travel may be routine."
2
Emotionally cold or unwilling to show warmth toward others.
"Since the argument, my brother has been cold and distant with everyone."
"She gave a distant smile and turned back to her book."
"He seemed distant and preoccupied all evening."
How to use distant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFar away physically, or emotionally cold and detached.
Common pairings
distant relative
distant memory
seem distant
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like distant.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more distant
- Superlative
- most distant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We heard the _____ sound of a train long before it arrived.
Etymology
From Old French distant, from Latin distans, present participle of distare, "to stand apart."
Synonyms
View more →
removed
detached
aloof
reserved
secluded
unapproachable
far
far-flung
far-off
faraway
outlandish
outlying
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for distant
See all rhymes for distant →Frequently asked questions
What does “distant” mean?
The word “distant” means far away in space or time. In plain terms, far away physically, or emotionally cold and detached.
How do you pronounce “distant”?
“Distant” is pronounced DIHS-tuhnt (/ˈdɪstənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “distant” in a sentence?
Here is “distant” used in a sentence: “They could see a distant mountain range on the horizon.”
What is another word for “distant”?
Words with a similar meaning to “distant” include far, far-flung, far-off, faraway, outlandish and outlying.
What is the opposite of “distant”?
The opposite of “distant” — its antonyms — is near.
What part of speech is “distant”?
“Distant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “distant” come from?
The word “distant” comes from Latin. From Old French distant, from Latin distans, present participle of distare, "to stand apart.".
Is “distant” a common word?
“Distant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between distant and remote?
Distant simply means far away in space or time. Remote usually adds the idea of being isolated and hard to reach, so a remote village is both far away and cut off, while a distant one is only far.
What is the difference between distant and aloof?
Aloof describes only emotional coldness or detachment from other people. Distant can mean the same emotional coldness, but it can also mean physically far away, so distant is the broader word.
What preposition is used with distant?
Distant is typically followed by 'from,' as in 'a town distant from the coast.' This shows the point that something is far away from.
What is the difference between distant and far?
The two are largely synonymous, but 'far' is more informal and appears in questions and negatives, as in 'how far is it.' 'Distant' is more formal and works well before a noun, as in 'a distant relative' or 'the distant past.'
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include distant:
