# distance

/ˈdɪstəns/ (US) · /dˈɪstəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/distance
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. amount of space

noun · CEFR A2

the amount of space between two places, people, or things.

For teachers: the linear or geographical interval between two points.

- The distance between my house and the office is about five miles.
- The total distance covered during the marathon was precisely 42.195 kilometres, winding through the city's historic districts.

### 2. a far-off place

noun · CEFR B1

a place that is far away from where you are.

For teachers: a remote or far-off point in space, often used in the phrases 'in the distance' or 'from a distance'.

- I could see the mountains in the distance, covered in white snow.
- From a distance, the ancient ruins appeared as nothing more than jagged teeth against the darkening sky.

### 3. emotional coldness

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a feeling of not being friendly or close to someone.

For teachers: a state of emotional or social separation; a lack of intimacy or friendliness.

- There was a strange distance between the two brothers after their big argument.
- Despite their professional collaboration, a palpable distance remained between the two scientists, rooted in a long-standing academic rivalry.

### 4. to separate yourself

verb · CEFR B2

to move away from someone or to stop being involved with an idea or group.

For teachers: to create a physical or metaphorical separation; often used reflexively to disassociate from a person, group, or ideology.

- The politician tried to distance himself from the scandal as soon as it broke.
- The company sought to distance itself from the controversial remarks made by its former CEO during the press conference.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'from'.

### 5. to outrun

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to move much faster than others in a race so you are far ahead.

For teachers: to outpace or leave other competitors behind by a significant margin.

- The lead runner began to distance the rest of the group in the final lap.
- By the halfway mark, the champion had effectively distanced the field, leaving the other sprinters to compete for second place.

## Examples

- The distance to the station is two miles.
- The long distance between them made their relationship difficult to maintain.
- Over time, a noticeable emotional distance grew between the old friends, marked by shorter phone calls and a reluctance to share personal news.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.