distance

/ˈdɪstəns/
noun
  1. The amount of space between two places or things.
    • In the desert, you can see for a great distance because there are no buildings.
    • She measured the distance between the two trees with a tape measure.
    • The distance from my house to the school is about two miles.
  2. A state of being far away in space or time.
    • He kept his distance from the fire because it was too hot.
    • The war happened in the distant past, but we still remember it.
    • From a distance, the mountain looked blue and mysterious.
  3. A lack of closeness or friendliness in a relationship.
    • There was a growing distance between the two friends after the argument.
    • She felt a cold distance in his voice when he spoke to her.
    • The distance between the manager and the employees made teamwork difficult.
verb
  1. To make or keep someone or something far away, especially in a relationship or competition.
    • He tried to distance himself from the scandal by denying any involvement.
    • The runner quickly distanced the other competitors and won the race easily.
    • She distanced herself from her old friends after moving to a new city.