distance

The amount of space between two places, people, or things.

• The distance to school is two kilometres.
• We walked a short distance along the river.
• How do you measure the distance between the planets?

How to use it: distance between A and B (What is the distance between the hotel and the station?); distance from A to B (The distance from here to the beach is two kilometres.); at a distance of ... (Stand at a distance of one metre from the wall.)

Similar words: gap, separation

Common phrases: short distance, long distance, distance between places, distance from something

The amount of space between two people, places, or things.

• It is only a short distance.
• We walked a distance of three kilometres.
• What is the distance from here to the beach?

How to use it: distance from A to B (The distance from our house to school is two kilometres.); distance between A and B (What is the distance between the two towns?)

Similar words: gap, separation

Common phrases: short distance, long distance, distance from somewhere, walking distance

A measured gap between two positions, angles, or amounts.

• The angular distance is five degrees.
• The lens has a short focal distance.
• Can you calculate the distance between these values?

How to use it: distance between A and B (We calculated the angular distance between the two stars.)

Similar words: separation, difference

Common phrases: angular distance, focal distance, distance between points

To avoid being connected with someone or something, often because you disagree with them.

• She distanced herself from his views.
• Several members have distanced themselves from the party.
• He tried to distance himself from the scandal.

How to use it: distance yourself from someone/something (The company distanced itself from his remarks.)

Similar words: dissociate oneself, disassociate oneself

Common phrases: distance yourself from something, publicly distance yourself

To move farther away from someone or something.

• He distanced himself from the crowd.
• She moved backwards to distance herself from the dog.
• They distanced themselves from the fire as it spread.

How to use it: distance yourself from someone/something (She distanced herself from the crowd by stepping back.)

Similar words: withdraw, move away

Opposites: approach

Common phrases: distance yourself, distance yourself from someone