Explanation at your level:
Distance means how far away something is. If you are at home and your school is 5 kilometers away, that is the distance. You can say 'The distance is long' or 'The distance is short.'
We use distance to talk about travel. For example, 'What is the distance to the airport?' We also use it for objects. 'The distance between the two trees is ten meters.' It helps us describe space.
Beyond physical space, distance describes relationships. You might say there is 'some distance' between two people who used to be close. We often use it in the phrase 'long-distance' for things like phone calls or travel.
In more advanced contexts, distance acts as a measure of separation. We use collocations like 'a considerable distance' or 'at a safe distance.' It is also used in figurative language, such as 'keeping one's distance' to maintain professional or personal boundaries.
At this level, distance is used in abstract or academic discussions. You might discuss the 'social distance' between groups or the 'temporal distance' between historical events. It functions as a precise metric for evaluating separation in both physical and sociological frameworks.
Mastery of distance involves understanding its nuance in literature and philosophy. It can imply detachment, objectivity, or even alienation. When an author writes about 'the distance of time,' they are evoking a sense of historical perspective that transcends simple measurement.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Refers to space between points.
- Can be physical or emotional.
- Commonly used in travel.
- Often used in metaphors.
Think of distance as the invisible ruler between you and anything else in the world. Whether you are measuring the steps to your kitchen or the miles to a vacation spot, you are using the concept of distance.
It is a word we use every single day. You might talk about the distance between your house and school, or perhaps you feel there is an emotional distance between you and a friend. It is a versatile word that helps us understand our place in space.
The word distance has a long journey behind it! It comes from the Old French word destance, which itself comes from the Latin distantia. This Latin root comes from distare, meaning 'to stand apart' or 'to be remote.'
Historically, it wasn't just about physical measurements. In medieval times, it was often used to describe disagreement or a 'standing apart' in opinions. Over centuries, it evolved into our modern scientific and everyday term for space, though we still keep that metaphorical meaning when we talk about people growing distant.
You will most often hear distance used in travel contexts, such as 'long distance' or 'short distance.' It is very common to pair it with verbs like travel, cover, or measure.
In formal writing, you might see phrases like 'at a distance' or 'within distance.' In casual speech, we often use it to describe relationships, saying someone is 'keeping their distance' when they want to be left alone. It is a neutral word that fits almost any register.
1. Go the distance: To finish something difficult. Example: She trained hard to go the distance in the marathon.
2. Keep someone at a distance: To avoid being close to someone. Example: He kept his coworkers at a distance.
3. At a distance: From far away. Example: I saw the mountain at a distance.
4. Within striking distance: Close enough to reach or achieve. Example: We are within striking distance of our goal.
5. Long-distance relationship: A romantic relationship between people who live far apart. Example: They made their long-distance relationship work.
Distance is typically an uncountable noun when referring to the general concept, but it can be countable when talking about specific measurements (e.g., 'there are two distances to consider').
The IPA is /ˈdɪstəns/. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like instance, resistance, and subsistence. Remember to pronounce the 's' sound clearly at the end!
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'distaste' in some linguistic theories.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp 't' and 's' sounds.
Clear 'd' and 't' sounds.
Common Errors
- pronouncing 't' as 'd'
- swallowing the final 's'
- stressing the second syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Countable vs Uncountable
The distance is long.
Preposition usage
Distance between A and B.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Distances are measured.
Examples by Level
The distance is short.
The gap is small.
Simple subject-verb.
What is the distance?
How far is it?
Question form.
I walk a long distance.
I walk far.
Direct object.
The distance is 5 miles.
It is 5 miles away.
Measurement.
Is the distance far?
Is it a big gap?
Interrogative.
The distance is clear.
I can see the space.
Adjective usage.
We measure the distance.
We check the space.
Verb usage.
Keep your distance.
Stay away.
Imperative.
The distance between the cities is large.
He ran a long distance today.
Can you estimate the distance?
The distance is about ten kilometers.
We need to cover some distance.
Keep a safe distance from the fire.
The distance makes it hard to visit.
I don't know the exact distance.
There is a great distance between our opinions.
She works in a long-distance role.
Keep your distance from the edge.
The distance traveled was impressive.
They maintained a professional distance.
The distance seems shorter by car.
We are within striking distance of the goal.
He felt a distance growing between them.
The distance between theory and practice is wide.
He kept a respectful distance during the meeting.
The distance of the stars is hard to imagine.
They traveled a considerable distance.
The distance involved in the project is significant.
She kept her distance from the controversy.
The distance from the truth was obvious.
We measured the distance in light years.
The social distance between the classes was profound.
He viewed the events from a historical distance.
The distance between the two concepts is subtle.
She maintained a critical distance from the subject.
The distance of his voice made it hard to hear.
There is a vast distance between their ideologies.
We must bridge the distance between cultures.
The distance of the memory faded over time.
The aesthetic distance of the painting is striking.
He explored the distance between life and art.
The distance of his gaze suggested deep thought.
She felt the distance of the cold winter stars.
The distance between them was an emotional chasm.
He analyzed the distance of the historical period.
The distance of the sound echoed in the hall.
She bridged the distance with a kind word.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"go the distance"
to complete a task
He had the stamina to go the distance.
casual"keep at a distance"
to avoid someone
She kept him at a distance.
neutral"within striking distance"
very close to a goal
We are within striking distance of the win.
neutral"at arm's length"
to keep someone away
He kept his rivals at arm's length.
formal"long-distance"
far away
They have a long-distance relationship.
neutral"from a distance"
not close up
It looks better from a distance.
neutralEasily Confused
both measure extent
distance is space, range is scope
The distance is 10 miles; the range is 50 miles.
both mean empty space
gap is often a hole
The gap in the fence vs the distance to the house.
both mean length
span is the full extent
The span of the bridge.
both measure size
length is one dimension
The length of the rope.
Sentence Patterns
The distance between A and B is...
The distance between home and school is 2 miles.
Keep a distance from...
Keep a distance from the road.
At a distance of...
We stood at a distance of 5 meters.
Cover a distance of...
They covered a distance of 100 miles.
Maintain a distance of...
Maintain a distance of 2 feet.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
distancy is not a word
redundant
idiomatic usage
grammar rule
article usage
Tips
Prefix Trick
Think of 'dis' meaning apart.
Travel
Always use it for trips.
Social Distance
Common in health contexts.
Between
Always use 'between A and B'.
Stress
Stress the first syllable.
Redundancy
Don't say 'distance away'.
Latin Roots
Comes from 'distare'.
Flashcards
Use it in a sentence.
Uncountable
Treat it as a concept.
Metaphor
Use it for people.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Dis-tance: Dis (away) + tance (standing). Standing away.
Visual Association
A ruler measuring a gap.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Measure the distance from your desk to the door.
Wortherkunft
Latin
Original meaning: to stand apart
Kultureller Kontext
None.
Used frequently in sports and travel.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
travel
- long distance
- travel distance
- short distance
work
- professional distance
- distance learning
- remote work
relationships
- emotional distance
- keep distance
- grow distant
science
- focal distance
- measure distance
- calculate distance
Conversation Starters
"What is the distance to your home?"
"Do you like long-distance travel?"
"Is there a distance between you and your friends?"
"How do you measure distance?"
"Why is distance important?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a long distance you traveled.
Describe the distance between two objects in your room.
How do you keep distance from stress?
When is distance a good thing?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenUsually uncountable, but can be pluralized.
Distance is space; range is the extent of capability.
I distanced myself from the situation.
It is neutral.
Yes, but usually in a metaphorical way.
Distant.
DIS-tance.
Yes, very.
Teste dich selbst
The ___ is long.
distance fits the context.
What is the distance?
distance refers to space/far.
Distance can be emotional.
Yes, it describes relationships.
Word
Bedeutung
Common collocation.
Standard sentence structure.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
Distance is the measure of separation between two things.
- Refers to space between points.
- Can be physical or emotional.
- Commonly used in travel.
- Often used in metaphors.
Prefix Trick
Think of 'dis' meaning apart.
Travel
Always use it for trips.
Social Distance
Common in health contexts.
Between
Always use 'between A and B'.
Beispiel
The distance between my house and the school is very short.
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