Distance | Mean of distance in English Dictionary

/ˈdɪstəns/

• Noun
• the amount of space between two places or things
1. What is the distance between the Earth and the Sun?
2. The gas station is a short distance away.
3. He spotted the group at a distance of one mile. [=he saw the group when they were one mile away from him]
4. Speed is measured in time and distance.
5. The nearest gas station is some distance away. [=it is not nearby]
6. Her house is within walking/striking distance of the school. [=she lives very close to the school]
• a point or place that is far away from another point or place
1. She kept the children a safe distance from the road.
2. The sign was hard to read from a distance.
3. We followed them at a distance.
4. He saw a light in the distance. [=he saw a light that was far away]
5. After observing politics from a distance for years, I've decided to run for office.
6. (Brit) The book is better than the movie by some distance. [=the book is much better than the movie]
• a state in which people are not involved with or friendly toward each other
1. She feels a distance from her brother that wasn't there before.
2. He heard the distance [=unfriendliness] in her voice.
3. Although they were once good friends, there was now considerable distance between them.
4. He wants to put distance between himself and his former boss.

• to complete something you have started
1. Even with an injured elbow, he went/lasted the distance and pitched the rest of the game.
2. Don't volunteer for the job if you can't go the distance.
• to be unfriendly toward (someone)
1. She always kept her coworkers at a distance.
• to stay far enough away from someone or something to be safe
1. Visitors are told to keep their distance from the monkeys.
• to avoid getting involved in something or becoming friendly with someone
1. He tried to keep his distance from the scandal.
2. After their break-up, she thought it was wise to keep her distance.
• Verb
• to show that you are not involved with someone or something
1. She has tried to distance herself from her family.
2. They all want to distance themselves from the scandal.