1
a
: separated in space : away
a mile distant
b
: situated at a great distance (see distance entry 1 sense 2a) : far-off
a distant galaxy
c
: having a great amount of separation between each other : separated by a great distance from each other : far apart
visiting distant places
distant campuses
d
: far behind
finished a distant third
2
: separated in a relationship other than spatial
a distant cousin
the distant past
3
: different in kind
from two very distant backgrounds
5
a
: going a long distance
distant voyages
b
: concerned with remote (see remote entry 1 sense 2) things
distant thoughts
distantly
adverb
distantness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of distant in a Sentence
In the distant past, dinosaurs roamed the earth.
The day I left home is now a distant memory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Phillip raced around the exterior of the house, checking for embers and spraying distant hot spots with water, protecting what had become an island in the fire.
—
Eli Saslow, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Only the Colorado Rockies, a distant 20th at $129.9 million, have decided not to join in the spending.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 19 Jan. 2025
Only the families that did not have second homes or relations in distant lands sent their daughters onto the ship.
—Sheila Heti, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Indeed, a study in the journal Nature Sustainability evaluated the economic effects of California wildfires in 2018 and found that the majority of economic impact came from indirect losses, oftentimes in places and industries seemingly distant from the fires.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for distant 
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Eli Saslow, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Only the Colorado Rockies, a distant 20th at $129.9 million, have decided not to join in the spending.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 19 Jan. 2025
Only the families that did not have second homes or relations in distant lands sent their daughters onto the ship.
—Sheila Heti, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Indeed, a study in the journal Nature Sustainability evaluated the economic effects of California wildfires in 2018 and found that the majority of economic impact came from indirect losses, oftentimes in places and industries seemingly distant from the fires.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for distant
Dictionary Entries Near distant
Cite this Entry
“Distant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distant. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distant
adjective
dis·tant
ˈdis-tənt 
1
2
: not close in relationship
distant cousin
distantly
adverb
distantness
noun
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