ENGLISH
REFERENCE

kilometers

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈkɪɫəˌmitɝz// UK //kɪlˈɒmɪtəz// kilo·me·ters

n. a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1,000 meters. You use this to measure long distances, like the distance between two cities.

n. a metric unit of length equal to 1,000 metres. Used globally as the standard unit for geographical distance and speed limits.


SIMPLE

The nearest gas station is five kilometers away.

CONTEXTUAL

The marathon course covers just over forty-two kilometers of paved roads and city parks.

COMPLEX

The satellite maintains a stable orbit several hundred kilometers above the Earth's surface, providing high-resolution imagery for meteorological research.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly abbreviated as 'km'. In American English, the spelling 'kilometers' is standard, while 'kilometres' is used in British and international English.

Pitfall

The city is at ten kilometers.The city is ten kilometers away.When expressing distance from the speaker's current location, use 'away' or 'from here' rather than the preposition 'at'.

© 2026 English Reference