# distancing

/ˈdɪstənsɪŋ/ (US) · /dˈɪstənsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/distancing
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. social distancing

noun · CEFR B2

the practice of keeping a physical distance from other people to stop a disease from spreading.

For teachers: the practice of maintaining a physical space between oneself and others to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

- During the pandemic, distancing became a normal part of going to the supermarket.
- Public health officials emphasized that consistent distancing, combined with mask-wearing, was essential to lowering the infection rate within the community.

### 2. becoming distant

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the process of moving away from someone or something, either physically or in your feelings.

For teachers: the process of becoming emotionally or physically detached or remote.

- The distancing between the two former friends happened slowly over several years.
- The gradual distancing of the colony from the mainland's political influence eventually led to a formal declaration of independence.

### 3. separating yourself from an idea

verb · CEFR B2

showing that you are not connected to or do not support an idea or person.

For teachers: the act of publicly or psychologically disassociating oneself from a particular person, group, or viewpoint.

- The politician is distancing himself from the unpopular new tax plan.
- By distancing the brand from its controversial founder, the new management hoped to regain the trust of their younger demographic.

Usage: Often used with the reflexive pronoun (himself, herself, themselves) followed by the preposition 'from'.

## Examples

- He is distancing himself from his old friends.
- The politician spent the afternoon distancing herself from the controversial comments made by her campaign manager.
- By adopting a more clinical tone in the final chapters, the author succeeds in distancing the reader from the protagonist's increasingly erratic and violent behavior.

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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.