Meaning of distant in English
Classifying Adjective
distantDefinitions
1. remote in mannerExamples
- « stood apart with aloof dignity »
- « a distant smile »
- « he was upstage with strangers »
Synonyms
- 2. far distant in time
Examples
- « distant events »
- « the remote past or future »
- « a civilization ten centuries removed from modern times »
Synonyms
- 3. far distant in space
Examples
- « distant lands »
- « remote stars »
- « a remote outpost of civilization »
- « a hideaway far removed from towns and cities »
Synonyms
Qualitative Adjective
distantEtymology
late Middle English: from Latin distant-‘standing apart’, from the verb distare, from dis-‘apart’ + stare‘stand’Definitions
1. separated in space or time or coming from or going to a distanceExamples
- « the distant past »
- « distant villages »
- « the sound of distant traffic »
- « a distant sound »
- « a distant telephone call »
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 2. far apart in relevance or relationship
Examples
- « a distant cousin »
- « a distant likeness »
Synonyms
Antonyms