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
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
Cam wanted to go somewhere distant and new.
—
María Cristina Lalonde, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Bardot’s cold and distant mother was incensed.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Christine and Kody's distant relationship isn't the only familial tie in the former Brown household.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Oceans are much more vast, so vessels are much more likely to be dealing with swells — which are older, leftover waves coming from distant storms, Lenters said.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distant
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María Cristina Lalonde, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Bardot’s cold and distant mother was incensed.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Christine and Kody's distant relationship isn't the only familial tie in the former Brown household.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Oceans are much more vast, so vessels are much more likely to be dealing with swells — which are older, leftover waves coming from distant storms, Lenters said.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distant
Cite this Entry
“Distant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distant. Accessed 31 Dec. 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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