Distance — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈdi-stən(t)s/ dis·tance

Meaning & Definition of Distance

Distance (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being distant
  2. spatial remoteness
  3. personal and especially emotional separation; also, reserve, coldness

Distance (verb)

  1. to make or maintain a personal or emotional separation from, to place or keep at a distance
  2. to leave far behind, outstrip

Distance (adjective)

  1. taking place via electronic media linking instructors and students who are not together in a classroom

Distance (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects

    "the distance between the earth and the sun is about 93 million miles"

    similar: lead, length, remove, spacing, spread, stretch, way
    related: altitude, area, breadth, depth, height, rise, space, volume, width, extension, extent, cast, range, reach, scope, shot, sweep, throw, drop, fall, flight, haul, berth, clearance

  2. a wide space or area

    "a region marked by great, featureless distances"

    similar: breadth, expanse, expansion, extent, field, length, plain, reach, sheet, spread, stretch, waste
    related: domain, sphere, territory, compass, range, scope, sweep, gamut, scale, spectrum, depth, emptiness, void, extension, latitude, span, amplitude, immensity, magnitude

  3. the quality or state of being different

    "the brothers' personalities are like the distance between night and day"

    similar: contrast, difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, otherness, unlikeness
    related: deviance, divergence, differentiability, discriminability, distinguishability, change, modification, variation, conflict, discord, discordance, dissension, dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife, variability, variance, anomalousness, dichotomy, incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, nonconformity, disproportion, imbalance, inequality, nonequivalence
    opposite: alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness, similarity
    near: identicalness, identity, accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, parallelism, similitude, equality, equivalence, equivalency, homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity

Distance (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in retreat, recede

    similar: recede, retreat, bestrew, break up, broadcast, clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, dissipate, distribute, scatter, sow, branch (out), diverge, divide, fork, part, separate, spread
    opposite: converge, join, assemble, gather, meet

  2. as in leave, escape

    similar: discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out, abandon, desert, forsake, leave, maroon, quit, strand, deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield, escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from), abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, sacrifice
    opposite: reclaim, harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold, redeem, rescue, save

Related Entry: Shouting distance (noun)

Shouting distance is a different word from Distance. The synonyms below are for shouting distance, not for distance.

  1. a very small distance or degree

    "he's within shouting distance of being the winningest coach in college basketball history"

    similar: ace, hair, hairbreadth, hairline, hop, skip, and jump, inch, neck, step, stone's throw
    related: bit, crumb, dab, iota, jot, minim, mite, particle, smidgen, trace, trifle
    opposite: country mile, long haul, mile
    near: infinity, light-year

Related Entry: Striking distance (noun)

Striking distance is a different word from Distance. The synonyms below are for striking distance, not for distance.

  1. as in shouting distance, stone's throw

    similar: hop, skip, and jump, shouting distance, stone's throw, hair, hairbreadth, inch
    opposite: galaxy, light-year, world, country mile, long haul, way, infinity

Related Entry: Keep (verb)

Keep is a different word from Distance. The synonyms below are for keep, not for distance.

  1. to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony

    "keep the Sabbath by not working"

    similar: celebrate, commemorate, observe
    related: bless, consecrate, sanctify, solemnize, fete, honor, laud, praise, memorialize, remember
    opposite: break, transgress, violate
    near: blow off, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook

  2. to continue to have in one's possession or power

    "the money is yours to keep"

    "keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone"

    similar: hold, reserve, retain, withhold, hang on to, hold on to
    related: conserve, guard, preserve, protect, save, boast, enjoy, have, own, possess, command, control, detain, direct, manage, rule, bear, harbor, cherish, cling (to), hug, treasure
    opposite: give up, hand over, release, relinquish, surrender, yield
    near: abandon, cede, drop, contribute, donate, give, hand out, discard, dump, decline, reject, repudiate, spurn, lose

  3. to do what is required by the terms of

    "make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter"

    similar: answer, complete, comply (with), fill, fulfill, meet, redeem, satisfy, abide by, make good
    related: conclude, consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, accomplish, achieve, bring about, bring off, carry out, effect, commit, compass, discharge, execute, follow through (with), make, perform
    opposite: breach, break, transgress, violate
    near: default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

  4. to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability

    "I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests"

    similar: put up, reposit, store, stow
    related: cellar, garage, hangar, house, warehouse, file, pack, shelve

  5. to pay the living expenses of

    "agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs"

    similar: maintain, provide (for), support, foot the bill (for), take care of
    related: finance, fund, patronize, set up, sponsor, stake, underwrite

  6. to look after and make decisions about

    "enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away"

    similar: administer, administrate, carry on, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend, watch over
    related: care (for), mind, watch, lead, pilot, steer, guard, protect, safeguard, micromanage, stage-manage, codirect, comanage

  7. to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)

    "try to keep your composure no matter what happens"

    similar: bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame
    related: bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow, arrest, interrupt, stop, block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct, gag, muzzle, silence
    opposite: lose
    near: liberate, loose, loosen, unleash, air, express, take out, vent

  8. to drive danger or attack away from

    "may God bless and keep you"

    similar: bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward, stand up for
    related: avert, prevent, oppose, resist, withstand, battle, contend, fight, war, conserve, preserve, save, buffer, palisade, picket, wall
    opposite: assail, assault, attack
    near: bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield

Related Entry: Keep (from) (verb)

Keep (from) is a different word from Distance. The synonyms below are for keep (from), not for distance.

  1. to resist the temptation of

    "try to keep from eating all the chocolate in one day!"

    similar: abjure, abstain (from), forbear, forgo, refrain (from), withhold (from)
    related: avoid, eschew, shun, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, deny, refuse, reject, repudiate, buck, combat, fight
    opposite: bow (to), give in (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)
    near: acquiesce (to), capitulate, concede (to), knuckle under (to)

Related Entry: Keep (to) (verb)

Keep (to) is a different word from Distance. The synonyms below are for keep (to), not for distance.

  1. to give steadfast support to

    "always keeps to his political positions, even when they are unpopular"

    similar: adhere (to), cling (to), hew (to), stand by, stick (to or with), abide by, hold to, live up to
    related: cleave (to), advocate, back, champion, confirm, defend, endorse, espouse, support, uphold, accept, adopt, cherish, cultivate, embrace, follow, foster, heed, backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, enforce, reinforce
    opposite: defect (from)
    near: abandon, abnegate, desert, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender, abjure, recall, recant, reconsider, renege, renounce, retract, revoke, take back, unsay, withdraw, controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute, contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, repudiate, back down, back off, backtrack

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Distance

The most common words with a similar meaning to Distance:

lead, length, remove, spacing, spread, stretch, way, breadth, expanse, expansion, extent, field, plain, reach, sheet, waste, contrast, difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, otherness, unlikeness, recede, retreat, bestrew, break up, broadcast, clear out, disband, dispel, disperse

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Distance

Words with the opposite meaning of Distance:

alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness, similarity, converge, join, assemble, gather, meet, reclaim, harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold, redeem, rescue, save

Related Words for Distance

altitude, area, depth, height, rise, space, volume, width, extension, cast, range, scope, shot, sweep, throw, drop, fall, flight, haul, berth, clearance, domain, sphere, territory, compass, gamut, scale, spectrum, emptiness, void

Near Antonyms of Distance

identicalness, identity, accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, parallelism, similitude, equality, equivalence, equivalency, homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity

Word Forms of Distance

Inflections: distanced, distancing

Origin & Etymology of Distance

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Distance

Words & Phrases Containing Distance

distance learning, aesthetic distance, go the distance, hyperfocal distance, keep one's distance, long-distance

Frequently Asked Questions about Distance

What does "Distance" mean?

"Distance" means the quality or state of being distant. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: the quality or state of being distant. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Distance"?

Other words for "Distance" include lead, length, remove, spacing, spread, stretch, way and breadth. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Distance" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Distance"?

There are 156 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Distance". Common alternatives include lead, length, remove, spacing, spread, stretch, way, breadth, expanse and expansion.

What is the opposite of "Distance"?

Antonyms of "Distance" include alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness and similarity. Near antonyms include identicalness, identity, accordance and agreement.

How do you use "Distance" in a sentence?

Examples of "Distance" in a sentence: "the distance between the earth and the sun is about 93 million miles"; "a region marked by great, featureless distances"; "the brothers' personalities are like the distance between night and day".

Is "Distance" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Distance" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Distance" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Distance" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Distance"?

"Distance" is pronounced /ˈdi-stən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as dis·tance.