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
Sinema fell to a distant third in public polling before formally quitting the race in March.
—
Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
The decision fell to the House of Representatives, where a string of backroom machinations made John Quincy Adams president and distant runner-up Henry Clay the Secretary of State.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
And for those who were curious about the fact that the actor and the author share a last name, yes — the late writer is a distant relative.
—Max Gao, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
It’s been everyone from distant college acquaintances to cousins who rarely spoke to me before.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distant 
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Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
The decision fell to the House of Representatives, where a string of backroom machinations made John Quincy Adams president and distant runner-up Henry Clay the Secretary of State.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
And for those who were curious about the fact that the actor and the author share a last name, yes — the late writer is a distant relative.
—Max Gao, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
It’s been everyone from distant college acquaintances to cousins who rarely spoke to me before.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
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 28 Nov. 2024.
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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