What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
length
Example
The length of the room is 10 meters. [length: noun]
Example
I was surprised by the length of the movie. [length: noun]
Example
The length of the rope is not enough to reach the ground. [length: noun]
distance
Example
The distance between New York and Los Angeles is about 2,800 miles. [distance: noun]
Example
We walked a long distance to get to the top of the hill. [distance: noun]
Example
The distance between the two houses made it difficult to hear each other. [distance: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distance is more commonly used than length in everyday language. Distance is a versatile word that can be used in many different contexts, while length is more specific and is often used in technical or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between length and distance?
Length is generally considered more formal than distance. It is often used in technical or scientific writing, while distance is used in both formal and informal contexts.
