distance
A2 (CEFR)Neutral; common across formal, informal, academic, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The length of the space between two points or places.
1. The condition of being far off; remoteness. 2. The full period or length of a race or contest. 3. A distant point or place. 4. A gap or interval of time. 5. The avoidance of familiarity; aloofness or reserve.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Both a concrete, measurable concept (physical space) and an abstract concept (emotional separation, time intervals). Often used in mathematics, physics, sports, and interpersonal relationships.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Distance learning' is slightly more common in UK contexts; 'remote learning' is equally common in US. In racing contexts, 'distance' can refer specifically to a race longer than a mile in UK usage.
Connotations
Largely identical. In both dialects, 'to keep one's distance' implies caution or emotional reserve.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
distance between X and Ydistance from X to Ydistance of Xdistance yourself from someone/somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go the distance”
- “keep at a distance”
- “within striking distance”
- “distance yourself from”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in logistics ('shipping distance'), management ('social distance in teams'), and marketing ('distance selling').
Academic
Central in mathematics (Euclidean distance), physics, geography, and social sciences ('power distance', 'cultural distance').
Everyday
Common for giving directions, discussing travel, and describing personal relationships.
Technical
Specific measures like 'Hamming distance' (IT), 'focal distance' (optics), 'stopping distance' (engineering).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The distance from Edinburgh to Glasgow is roughly 70 kilometres.
- He stared into the distance, lost in thought.
- She needed to keep a professional distance from her clients.
American English
- The distance from Chicago to Milwaukee is roughly 90 miles.
- I could see mountains in the distance.
- The scandal created distance between the two politicians.
verb
British English
- The leader sought to distance himself from the controversial remarks.
- Over time, she distanced herself from her old school friends.
American English
- The company is trying to distance its brand from the failed product.
- He distanced himself from the project once funding was cut.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My school is a short distance from my house.
- What is the distance between these two cities?
- He lives within walking distance of the train station.
- We need to maintain a safe distance from other cars.
- The cultural distance between the two communities made communication difficult.
- The runner managed to cover the enormous distance in record time.
- The government attempted to distance its policies from the previous administration's failures.
- The novel is written from the ironic distance of hindsight.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DISTant place you can see. DISTANCE is how far you'd have to go to reach it.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE PHYSICAL DISTANCES (e.g., 'We've grown distant', 'Close friendship'). TIME IS DISTANCE (e.g., 'Looking back from a distance of ten years').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'дистанция' which is narrower (often for races or formal separation). Russian 'расстояние' is the direct equivalent for physical space. 'Distance' as a verb ('to distance oneself') translates as 'дистанцироваться'.
- The phrase 'in the distance' translates as 'вдалеке', not word-for-word.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'from' incorrectly: 'What is the distance from London until Paris?' (Correct: '...from London to Paris').
- Using plural unnecessarily: 'The cities are separated by a large distances.' (Correct: '...a large distance').
- Confusing 'distant' (adj) and 'distance' (noun): 'She is a distance relative.' (Correct: '...a distant relative.')
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'distance' used as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is physical, it is extensively used metaphorically for time ('at a distance of several centuries'), emotional separation ('emotional distance'), and social relationships ('social distance').
'Length' measures the dimension of a single object from end to end. 'Distance' measures the space separating two distinct points, objects, or times.
Yes. As a verb, it means 'to make or become emotionally or socially separate or detached' (e.g., 'She distanced herself from the group'). This is a common and accepted usage.
The phrase 'in the distance' functions as an adverbial phrase meaning 'far away'. It is used to describe seeing or hearing something that is remote from the observer's location (e.g., 'We could see a castle in the distance').
Collections
Part of a collection
Transport
A2 · 48 words · Ways of getting from place to place.