distant
/ˈdɪstənt/far away in space or time
She lives in a distant city and visits rarely.
She resides in a faraway city and comes to visit infrequently.
The distant past holds many mysteries.
The far-off past contains many unknowns.
Often used to describe physical or temporal separation.
emotionally or socially remote; aloof
His distant attitude made it hard to connect with him.
His emotionally detached behavior made it difficult to relate to him.
Used to describe a lack of emotional closeness or engagement.
Collocations
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Do not use 'distant' with 'far' (e.g., 'far distant') as it is redundant.
⚡Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 'distant' for both physical and emotional separation, but clarify with context.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'distaunt,' from Old French 'distant,' from Latin 'distans,' present participle of 'distare' (to stand apart).
📝Usage Notes
Can describe physical distance, time, or emotional detachment. Avoid using with 'far' unless for emphasis.