distance

[ˈdɪstəns]

distance Definition

  • 1the amount of space between two places or things
  • 2the fact of not being near in time or relationship

Using distance: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "distance" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The distance between New York and Los Angeles is about 2,800 miles.

  • Example

    There was a distance of several years between their two meetings.

  • Example

    The distance from the Earth to the Moon is about 238,855 miles.

  • Example

    The distance between the two buildings is only a few feet.

distance Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for distance

Idioms Using distance

  • not close to someone or something

    Example

    He watched the parade from a distance.

  • to create emotional or physical separation from something

    Example

    She distanced herself from her former colleagues after the scandal.

  • a person who runs long distances as a sport or for exercise

    Example

    He's a distance runner and has completed several marathons.

Phrases with distance

  • keep one's distance

    to stay away from someone or something

    Example

    I try to keep my distance from people who are sick.

  • to continue doing something until it is finished or until you have achieved what you wanted to achieve

    Example

    She's determined to go the distance and finish the race.

  • a way of studying where lectures are broadcast or lessons are conducted over the internet, rather than students attending classes in person

    Example

    Due to the pandemic, many universities have switched to distance learning.

Origins of distance

from Latin 'distantia', meaning 'a standing apart'

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Summary: distance in Brief

The term 'distance' [ˈdɪstəns] refers to the amount of space between two places or things, or the fact of not being near in time or relationship. It can be used to describe physical measurements like 'The distance between New York and Los Angeles is about 2,800 miles,' or emotional separations like 'She distanced herself from her former colleagues after the scandal.' The phrase 'go the distance' means to continue doing something until it is finished or until you have achieved what you wanted to achieve.

How do native speakers use this expression?