distant

adjective

dis·​tant ˈdi-stənt 

1

a

: separated in space : away

a mile distant

b

: situated at a great distance (see distance entry 1 sense 2a) : far-off

a distant galaxy

c

: having a great amount of separation between each other : separated by a great distance from each other : far apart

visiting distant places

distant campuses

d

: far behind

finished a distant third

2

: separated in a relationship other than spatial

a distant cousin

the distant past

3

: different in kind

from two very distant backgrounds

4

: reserved or aloof in personal relationship : cold

was distant and distracted

5

a

: going a long distance

distant voyages

b

: concerned with remote (see remote entry 1 sense 2) things

distant thoughts

distantly adverb

distantness noun

Synonyms

• away
• deep
• far
• faraway
• far-flung
• far-off
• remote
• removed

Examples of distant in a Sentence

In the distant past, dinosaurs roamed the earth.

The day I left home is now a distant memory.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tom Kim finished a distant second on 19-under and Justin Thomas, who led by a shot heading into the final round but remains without a win in more than two years, was third on 18-under. —Matias Grez, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024

While data isn't available indicating how much this has changed over recent years, the tradition of downsizing into smaller homes designed with retirement in mind is becoming a distant, if not completely unlikely, prospect for America's aging boomer population. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

And a watch means that there has been a distant event, such as an earthquake or underwater landslide that might create a tsunami. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024

Scientists found at least 1,200 times the amount of water in all of Earth’s oceans around a protostar — a very young star in the early stages of its evolution — 1,305 light-years distant in the constellation Orion. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin distant-, distans, present participle of distare to stand apart, be distant, from dis- + stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing distant

• distant look in someone's eye
• in the not too distant future
• the dim and distant past

Kids Definition

distant

adjective

dis·​tant ˈdis-tənt 

1

a

: separated in space or time : away

b

: being at a great distance : far-off

distant galaxies

c

: far apart

2

: not close in relationship

distant cousin

3

: cold entry 1 sense 2, unfriendly

distantly adverb

distantness noun