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
Advertisement Still, his father remained remote and distant.
—
Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 18 July 2025
Lyricism as the default measure of talent feels like a distant memory.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2025
In its breadth and aloofness, Death to Order feels like a distant cousin of Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y, Johan Grimonprez’s cavorting 1997 documentary about airliner hijackings.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Ten years later, the flood sometimes feels like a distant memory.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for distant
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Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 18 July 2025
Lyricism as the default measure of talent feels like a distant memory.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2025
In its breadth and aloofness, Death to Order feels like a distant cousin of Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y, Johan Grimonprez’s cavorting 1997 documentary about airliner hijackings.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Ten years later, the flood sometimes feels like a distant memory.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 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 22 Jul. 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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