distance 1 of 2

noun

ˈdi-stən(t)s How to pronounce distance (audio)
Definition of distancenext
1
as in length
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects the distance between the earth and the sun is about 93 million miles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in expanse
a wide space or area a region marked by great, featureless distances

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in difference
the quality or state of being different the brothers' personalities are like the distance between night and day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

distance

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to retreat

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in to throw away

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distance
Noun
The Roadster also did not fly any appreciable distance, landing short of even the 120 feet the Wright Brothers achieved during their first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 We are made to understand our distance from the English language. — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
The league can distance itself from Jay Z's selection by pointing to his authority over the halftime show. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Some are struggling to distance themselves from this profoundly anti-American barrage of pro-Russian policies. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distance
  1. length
  2. expanse
  3. difference
  4. retreat
  5. throw away
  6. width
  7. expansion
  8. distinctness
Noun
  • Neither scenario seems impossible in the show, and Sonny goes to lengths to find out what’s true.
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Ganzorigt shaped Bieber's nails into her preferred medium-length almond, then applied a few coats of the onyx hue for tons of depth and reflective, almost latex-like shine.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of length
Noun
  • Deciduous trees the color of fresh green apples line the riverbank, then dot the vast expanses of conifer forest that stretch up into the hills.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Everything is a little bit more rivets and angles, a little bit less wide expanse.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of expanse
Noun
  • Gallup found no difference in scam victimization rates by age, and experienced professionals have been duped as well.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The old boy was perfectly reasonable, explaining the difference between federal reimbursement and state reimbursement, and the speed that agencies move on the different levels.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of difference
Verb
  • Longtime collaborator Erik Blood foregrounds Butler’s dry drum machines in the mix, letting every other element shuffle around them, snaking toward the spotlight for a brief moment and retreating back into the brume.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • If broadcaster partnerships are helping Netflix expand its offering in Europe and Latin America, India shows why the streamer is unlikely to retreat from investing in local originals.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • The restaurant also had to throw away ground beef, shredded chicken, shredded cheese, raw pork chops and raw steaks because they weren’t held at a minimum temperature of 41 degrees.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Many butterfly and moth species lay pupae in leaf litter, so throwing away leaves each fall may be getting rid of these beneficial insects, too.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of throw away
Noun
  • Compare that to the NestWorks C500 milling machine, which retails for $6,000 and is compact enough to sit on a desktop, shaping titanium and stainless steel to within a third of the width of a human hair.
    — Joe Mullich, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The owner’s suite spans the full width of the main deck, with the owner’s ensuite in the port hull.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of width
Noun
  • The Valkyries made history in their inaugural season, becoming the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its debut year.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Scaling hypersonic composites The expansion comes alongside a broader push to strengthen the US industrial base for hypersonic systems.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of expansion
Noun
  • How can the sense of an absolute union of all matter be reconciled with the endless multiplicity and distinctness of it?
    — Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
  • However, a few hours with Air Riders reveals the nuance and depth of its gameplay, the distinctness of this flavor of racing game and its sensory, chaotic, and strategic appeal.
    — Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2025
Definition of distinctness

Phrases Containing distance

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distains
distance
distanced
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Cite this Entry

“Distance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distance. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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