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
Many children there grow up largely without their parents, who leave to find work in distant cities.
—
Lise Pedersen, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
On a recent afternoon, fluffy clouds drift past the sun, throwing light, then shadow, across distant cliffs layered in yellow, ochre and sienna.
—John Burnett, NPR, 14 Mar. 2026
The Kensington group is expanding quickly, but hundreds of organizations across the country are also experimenting with ways to put residential and commercial real estate in the hands of community members, not distant LLCs.
—Amanda Abrams, thehustle.co, 13 Mar. 2026
Pereira’s side should possess the motivational edge, even if Fulham still have distant hopes of qualifying for European football.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distant
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Lise Pedersen, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
On a recent afternoon, fluffy clouds drift past the sun, throwing light, then shadow, across distant cliffs layered in yellow, ochre and sienna.
—John Burnett, NPR, 14 Mar. 2026
The Kensington group is expanding quickly, but hundreds of organizations across the country are also experimenting with ways to put residential and commercial real estate in the hands of community members, not distant LLCs.
—Amanda Abrams, thehustle.co, 13 Mar. 2026
Pereira’s side should possess the motivational edge, even if Fulham still have distant hopes of qualifying for European football.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distant
Cite this Entry
“Distant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distant. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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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