Distant
Definition
Distant refers to being far away in space or time. It can also describe a person who is emotionally detached or aloof. The term is used in various contexts to indicate physical, temporal, or emotional separation.
Parts of Speech
- Adjective
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdɪstənt/
- Respelling: DIS-tuhnt
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdɪstənt/
- Respelling: DIS-tuhnt
The pronunciation of "distant" is consistent in both American and British English.
Etymology
The word "distant" originates from the Latin word "distantem," meaning "standing apart" or "being remote," from the verb "distare," meaning "to stand apart." It entered Middle English in the 14th century through Old French "distant," retaining its original sense of separation in space or time.
Derivatives
- Distance (noun)
- Distantly (adverb)
- Distance learning (noun)
- Distance runner (noun)
- Distance oneself (verb phrase)
Synonyms
- Remote
- Aloof
- Faraway
Antonyms
- Close
- Nearby
- Approachable
Usage
The word "distant" is used in a variety of contexts. It can refer to physical separation, such as "a distant city," or temporal separation, like "distant future." Additionally, it can describe an emotional state, referring to someone who is detached or unapproachable, such as "a distant relative" or "she seemed emotionally distant."
Related Terms
- Remote: Located far from the main center of activity or population.
- Isolation: The state of being separated from others, either physically or emotionally.
- Separation: The action or state of moving or being moved apart.
Detailed Definitions
Adjective
- Far away in space or time: Describes something that is located far from a particular point or in the far past or future.
- Example: "They could see a distant mountain range in the distance."
- Emotionally detached or aloof: Refers to a person who appears unfriendly or unapproachable, or someone emotionally unavailable.
- Example: "He was polite but remained distant throughout the conversation."
distant
The island looked distant from the beach.
The star appeared distant in the night sky.
The woman felt distant from her family as she stood alone, deep in thought.
🇨🇳 Mandarin (Chinese)
- 远的 (yuǎn de) - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /jwæn˨˩˦ də˥/
- Respelling: YUAN duh
- 冷淡的 (lěngdàn de) - Distant (emotionally or figuratively)
- IPA: /ləŋ˨˩˦ dan˨˩˦ də˥/
- Respelling: LENG-dan duh
🇮🇳 Hindi
- दूर (dūr) - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /duːr/
- Respelling: DOOR
- पराया (parāyā) - Distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /pəˈraː.jaː/
- Respelling: pa-RAA-ya
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Lejano - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /le'xano/
- Respelling: leh-HAH-no
- Distante - Distant (emotionally or figuratively)
- IPA: /dis'tante/
- Respelling: dis-TAN-teh
🇫🇷 French
- Lointain - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /lwɛ̃.tɛ̃/
- Respelling: lwan-TAN
- Distant - Distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /dis.tɑ̃/
- Respelling: dis-TAN
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- بعيد (ba‘īd) - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /baʕiːd/
- Respelling: ba-EED
- غائر (ghā’ir) - Distant (emotionally or figuratively)
- IPA: /ɣaːʔir/
- Respelling: GHAH-eer
🇧🇩 Bengali
- দূর (dūr) - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /dur/
- Respelling: DOOR
- পরকীয় (parakīẏa) - Distant (emotionally or figuratively)
- IPA: /pɔrokijɔ/
- Respelling: po-ro-KI-yo
🇷🇺 Russian
- Далекий (Dalekiy) - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /dɐˈlʲekʲɪj/
- Respelling: da-LYEH-kee
- Отчужденный (Otchuzhdonnyy) - Distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /ˌotʃʊʐˈdʲenːɨj/
- Respelling: ot-choozh-DYEN-ny
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Distante - Distant (both meanings)
- IPA: /diʃ'tɐ̃t(ʃ)i/
- Respelling: dis-TAN-chee
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Jauh - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /d͡ʒauh/
- Respelling: JOWH
- Dingin - Distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /dɪŋˈin/
- Respelling: DING-in
🇩🇪 German
- Entfernt - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /ɛntˈfɛʁnt/
- Respelling: ent-FERNt
- Distanziert - Distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /dɪstanˈt͡siːʁt/
- Respelling: dis-tan-ZEERT
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 遠い (tōi) - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /toː.i/
- Respelling: TOH-ee
- 冷たい (tsumetai) - Cold, distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /t͡sumet͡sai/
- Respelling: tsoo-MEH-tai
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Xa - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /sa˧/
- Respelling: SAH
- Lạnh lùng - Cold, distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /laːŋ˧˥ luŋ˧/
- Respelling: LANGH loong
🇰🇷 Korean
- 먼 (meon) - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /mʌn/
- Respelling: MEUN
- 차갑다 (chagapda) - Cold, distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /t͡ʃa.ɡap̚.da/
- Respelling: CHA-gap-da
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Uzak - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /uˈzak/
- Respelling: oo-ZAK
- Soğuk - Cold, distant (emotionally)
- IPA: /soːˈuk/
- Respelling: soh-ook
🇵🇰 Urdu
- دور (dūr) - Distant (in terms of space)
- IPA: /duːr/
- Respelling: DOOR
- غیر متشابہ (ghair mutashābah) - Different, not alike, distant
- IPA: /ɣɛːr mutʃˈaːbɛh/
- Respelling: GHAIR mu-TSHA-beh
