distant

[ dis-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. far off or apart in space; not near at hand; remote or removed (often followed by from ):

   a distant place; a town three miles distant from here.

2. apart or far off in time:

   distant centuries past.

3. remote or far apart in any respect:

   a distant relative.

4. reserved or aloof; not familiar or cordial:

   a distant greeting.

   Synonyms: withdrawn, cool

5. arriving from or going to a distance, as a communication, journey, etc.:

   I have here a distant letter from Japan.

distant

/ ˈdɪstənt /

adjective

1. far away or apart in space or time
2. postpositive separated in space or time by a specified distance
3. apart in relevance, association, or relationship

   a distant cousin

4. coming from or going to a faraway place

   a distant journey

5. remote in manner; aloof
6. abstracted; absent

   a distant look

Derived Forms

• ˈdistantly, adverb
• ˈdistantness, noun

Other Words From

• distant·ly adverb
• distant·ness noun
• over·distant adjective
• over·distant·ly adverb
• quasi-distant adjective
• quasi-distant·ly adverb
• ultra·distant adjective
• un·distant adjective
• un·distant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of distant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dista(u)nt, from Anglo-French, from Latin distant-, stem of distāns “standing apart,” present participle of distāre “to stand apart,” from di- di- ² + stāre “to stand”; stand

Word History and Origins

Origin of distant¹

C14: from Latin distāre to be distant, from dis- ¹+ stāre to stand

Example Sentences

These findings not only provide a window into the distant past but also illustrate how genetic traits beneficial for survival and well-being can vanish over time.

From Science Daily

There are competent if conventional scenes of fog-laden meadows and villages silhouetted against distant skies.

From New York Times

For now, planting another forest where Gaza's villages and cities once stood seems like a distant possibility and an unimportant concern.

From Salon

Until recently, details about this group's most distant past have been elusive.

From Science Daily

He said any leadership election would be in the "dim and distant future".

From BBC

Related Words

• far
• far-flung
• far-off
• inaccessible
• isolated
• obscure
• remote
• removed
• secluded