long-distance

1 of 3

adjective

long-dis·​tance ˈlȯŋ-ˈdi-stən(t)s 

1

: of or relating to telephone communication with a distant point especially outside a specified area

2

a

: situated a long distance away

b

: going or covering a long distance

long-distance roads

a long-distance runner

c

: conducted or effective over long distance

a long-distance relationship

long-distance listening devices

long-distance

2 of 3

adverb

1

: by long-distance telephone

called her long-distance

2

: over or from a long distance

long distance

3 of 3

noun

1

: communication by long-distance telephone

2

: a telephone operator or exchange that gives long-distance connections

Examples of long-distance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Gauff turned the match into one of her long-distance track races, getting so many balls back that Mboko was huffing and puffing between every point. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 28 May 2025

Year-over-year revenues rose 15% to $16.8 million for April, with long-distance revenue up by 25% and short-haul results falling by 21%. —David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025

Adverb

Travelers who take off on months-long, around-the-world cruises enjoy the combination of daily resort-style perks and once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences only long-distance cruising can offer. —Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2023

In the East Regional, Michigan State and Kansas State combined for 24 made 3s, both shooting over 45% from long-distance. —Lindsay Schnell, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2023

Noun

The couple met as second-year university students in Iran, and have been together ever since, even making it through a five-year long distance relationship when Azimi left Iran in 2012 to pursue his Ph.D. at the Illinois Institute of Technology. —Ashley Belanger – May 27, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025

Merchants vied with the nobility for wealth and power, established trade routes, and facilitated the transport of goods over long distances; people moved from place to place with relative ease. —Lizzie Wade, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Adverb

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

long-distance

1 of 3 adjective

long-dis·​tance

-ˈdis-tən(t)s

1

: of or relating to telephone communication with a distant point

2

a

: situated a long distance away

b

: going or covering a long distance

long-distance roads

a long-distance runner

c

: conducted or effective over a long distance

a long-distance relationship

long-distance listening devices

long-distance

2 of 3 adverb

: by long-distance telephone

long distance

3 of 3 noun

1

: communication by long-distance telephone

2

: a telephone operator or exchange that gives long-distance connections