What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
distantly
Example
She spoke to him distantly, as if they were strangers. [distantly: adverb]
Example
The city was located distantly from the coast. [distantly: adverb]
Example
He watched the partygoers from a distant corner, observing their behavior. [distant: adjective]
remotely
Example
I only know him remotely through social media. [remotely: adverb]
Example
The village was located remotely in the mountains. [remotely: adverb]
Example
She listened to the lecture remotely, through an online platform. [remotely: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Remotely is more commonly used than distantly in everyday language. Remotely is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while distantly is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between distantly and remotely?
Both distantly and remotely are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.