Distant vs. Distance — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 18, 2023
Distant is an adjective describing something far away, while distance is a noun referring to the amount of space between two points.
Difference Between Distant and Distance
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Distant, as an adjective, describes a state or quality of being far away in space or time. For instance, when we refer to a star as distant, we talk about it being far from Earth. Distance, on the other hand, is a noun and indicates the measurement or extent of space between two things. It quantifies how far apart two objects or points are from each other.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Distant can also refer to a relationship or emotional state, indicating a lack of closeness or intimacy. For instance, when someone says, "He's been distant lately," it implies emotional detachment. Distance, however, in its literal sense, doesn't have emotional connotations but can metaphorically suggest emotional separation, as in "There's a distance between them after the argument."
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
In literature and common usage, distant might be used to describe something unreachable or abstract, like a distant memory or a distant dream. Distance, conversely, could be used to discuss the exact space one needs to travel, like the distance from New York to Los Angeles.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
In essence, distant serves to characterize objects, places, or emotions in terms of their remoteness or lack of proximity. Distance is more concrete, denoting the interval or gap between two points, whether it be physical, temporal, or, metaphorically, emotional.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Comparison Chart
ADVERTISEMENT
Refers to
Being far away in space, time, or relation
Measurement or extent of space between two points
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Usage in a Sentence
"She felt distant from her family."
"The distance between the two cities is 100 miles."
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Emotional Context
Can indicate emotional detachment or lack of closeness
Can indicate emotional separation, but not as commonly
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Abstract Usage
Can describe something abstract like a distant dream
Generally more concrete, but can be used metaphorically
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Definitions
Distant
Far away in space or time.
The mountain peak seemed distant and unreachable.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Distance
The extent or amount of space between two things.
The distance from Earth to the Moon is about 238,855 miles.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Distant
Remote in manner; aloof.
Her distant demeanor made it hard to connect.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Distant
Coming from or going to a faraway place.
He received a call from a distant land.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Distance
Distance is a numerical measurement of how far apart objects or points are. In physics or everyday usage, distance may refer to a physical length or an estimation based on other criteria.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Far separated; far off; not near; remote; - in place, time, consanguinity, or connection; as, distant times; distant relatives.
The success of these distant enterprises.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure of separation in place.
Every particle attracts every other with a force . . . inversely proportioned to the square of the distance.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Far away in space or time
Distant parts of the world
I remember that distant afternoon
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Far off (physically, logically or mentally).
We heard a distant rumbling but didn't pay any more attention to it.
She was surprised to find that her fiancé was a distant relative of hers.
His distant look showed that he was not listening to me.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Emotionally unresponsive or unwilling to express genuine feelings.
Ever since our argument, she has been totally distant toward me.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
A withholding of intimacy; alienation; variance.
The friendship did not survive the row: they kept each other at a distance.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Reserved or repelling in manners; cold; not cordial; somewhat haughty; as, a distant manner.
He passed me with a distant bow.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Far apart in relevance or relationship;
A distant cousin
A distant likeness
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Size of the gap between two places;
The distance from New York to Chicago
He determined the length of the shortest line segment joining the two points
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Separate or different in nature.
Their cultures had distant origins.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Distance
(countable) The amount of space between two points, usually geographical points, usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
The distance to Petersborough is thirty miles.
From Moscow, the distance is relatively short to Saint Petersburg, relatively long to Novosibirsk, but even greater to Vladivostok.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to rear; - contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to left.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Indistinct; faint; obscure, as from distance.
Some distant knowledge.
A distant glimpse.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
To place at a distance or remotely.
I heard nothing thereof at Oxford, being then miles distanced thence.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
(of a person) not intimate; cool or reserved
She and my father were distant with each other
His children found him strangely distant
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
A difference or gap in attitude, opinion, or position.
There's a great distance between their political views.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Distant
Far distant in time;
Distant events
The remote past or future
A civilization ten centuries removed from modern times
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve.
Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst themselves.
On the part of Heaven,Now alienated, distance and distaste.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Not conformable; discrepant; repugnant; as, a practice so widely distant from Christianity.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Remote in manner;
Stood apart with aloof dignity
A distant smile
He was upstage with strangers
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
(Mathematics) The length or numerical value of a straight line or curve.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Far distant in space;
Distant lands
Remote stars
A remote outpost of civilization
A hideaway far removed from towns and cities
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Coming from or going to a distance
A distant sound.
A distant telephone call.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
A point or area that is far away
"Telephone poles stretched way into a distance I couldn't quite see" (Leigh Allison Wilson).
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Separated; having an intervening space; at a distance; away.
One board had two tenons, equally distant.
Diana's temple is not distant far.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
A stretch of space without designation of limit; an expanse
A land of few hills and great distances.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distant
Separated in space or time or coming from or going to a distance;
The distant past
Distant villages
The sound of distant traffic
A distant sound
A distant telephone call
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Difference or disagreement
The candidates could not be at a greater distance on this issue.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Remoteness in succession or relation.
The distance between a descendant and his ancestor
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The entire amount of progress to an objective.
He had promised to perform this task, but did not go the distance.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The space measured back from the winning-post which a racehorse running in a heat must reach when the winner has covered the whole course, in order to run in the final heat.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
(transitive) To move away (from) someone or something.
He distanced himself from the comments made by some of his colleagues.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Remoteness of place; a remote place.
Easily managed from a distance.
'T is distance lends enchantment to the view.
[He] waits at distance till he hears from Cato.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The part of a picture which contains the representation of those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh.
If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the same time.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
A remote point in time;
If that happens it will be at some distance in the future
At a distance of ten years he had forgotten many of the details
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Keep at a distance;
We have to distance ourselves from these events in order to continue living
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The condition of being removed or apart.
He kept his distance from the controversial topic.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Distance
The extent of progress or advancement.
We've covered a good distance in the project.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Distance
The length of the space between two points
You may have to walk long distances
I cycled the short distance home
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The full length of a race
He claimed the 100 m title in only his second race over the distance
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The avoidance of familiarity; reserve
A mix of warmth and distance makes a good neighbour
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Make (someone or something) far off or remote in position or nature
Her mother wished to distance her from the rough village children
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The extent of space between two objects or places; an intervening space.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
A point removed in time
At a distance of 11 years, his memory of the crime was blurry.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The full period or length of a contest or game
The challenger had never attempted the distance of 12 rounds.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
An amount of progress
The curriculum committee is a distance from where it was last month.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
To place or keep at or as if at a distance
"monks who had distanced themselves from the official ecclesiastical hierarchy by resurrecting the ascetic traditions of the early Church Fathers" (Rosamund Bartlett).
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The difference; the subjective measure between two quantities.
We're narrowing the distance between the two versions of the bill.
The distance between the lowest and next gear on my bicycle is annoying.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
A space marked out in the last part of a race course.
The horse that ran the whole field out of distance.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events.
Ten years' distance between one and the other.
The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness.
I hope your modestyWill know what distance to the crown is due.
'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
To cause to appear as if at a distance; to make seem remote.
His peculiar art of distancing an object to aggrandize his space.
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
Distance
The interval between two times;
The distance from birth to death
It all happened in the space of 10 minutes
Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 19, 2019
FAQs
How is distance different from distant in meaning?
While distant describes a state or quality of being far away, distance is the actual measure of how far apart two things are.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Can distant describe emotions?
Yes, distant can describe emotional detachment or a lack of closeness.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Can distance indicate emotional separation?
Yes, phrases like "putting distance between" can metaphorically indicate emotional separation, but it's less common than the emotional connotations of distant.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
In what scenarios can distant be used?
Distant can describe physical space, time, relationships, or even emotions indicating remoteness or lack of proximity.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Is it correct to say, "The mountain looks distant"?
Yes, it means the mountain looks far away.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Is distance used only in physical contexts?
No, distance can also metaphorically suggest emotional, ideological, or temporal separation.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
When should I use distant instead of distance?
Use distant when characterizing something as being far away, and use distance when referring to the actual space or gap between things.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
How do I measure distance?
Distance can be measured in various units like miles, kilometers, feet, etc., depending on the context.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Can distant and distance be used interchangeably?
No, they serve different grammatical roles and have distinct meanings.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 18, 2023
Author Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
