distant
/ˈdɪstənt/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of DISTANT
1
[more distant; most distant]
:
existing or happening far away in space
:
separated by space
-
astronomers studying distant galaxies
-
They visited all sorts of distant [=far-off] places.
-
He finished the race a distant second. [=he was the second person to finish the race but he was far behind the winner]
-
The town is about 30 miles distant. [=(more commonly) away]
2
always used before a noun,
[more distant; most distant]
:
far away in time
:
happening far in the past or far into the future
-
In the distant past, dinosaurs roamed the earth.
-
The day I left home is now a distant memory.
-
the distant future
-
We're expecting major changes in the not too distant future. [=soon]
3
always used before a noun,
[more distant; most distant]
—
used to describe a relative who is not closely related to you
—
opposite close;
compare immediate
4
:
having to do with something that is not related to what is happening where you are or at the present time
-
His mind drifted to distant thoughts.
-
I remember when the restaurant's opening was nothing more than a distant possibility.
-
She has a distant look in her eye. [=the look on her face shows that she is thinking about something that is not related to what is happening now]
5
[more distant; most distant]
somewhat formal
:
not friendly or showing emotion
6
[more distant; most distant]
:
not like someone or something else
—
usually + from
the dim and distant past
chiefly British
:
a time that is so far in the past it is difficult to remember