B1 adjective Neutre #21 le plus courant 2 min de lecture

distant

/ˈdɪstənt/ Top 21

Distant means not close, whether physically, temporally, or emotionally.

Mot en 30 secondes

Far away in space, time, or relationship.
Indicates lack of closeness or proximity.
Used for places, times, and feelings.

Overview

The word 'distant' primarily describes a lack of proximity, either physically, temporally, or emotionally. It signifies something that is not close, either in terms of physical location, the amount of time that has passed or will pass, or the closeness of a relationship or emotional connection.

Usage Patterns

'Distant' is commonly used to describe physical locations (e.g., a distant planet, a distant city), time (e.g., a distant memory, a distant future), and relationships or emotions (e.g., a distant relative, a distant tone). It can also be used to describe something that is difficult to see, hear, or understand clearly due to its remoteness.

Common Contexts

You'll encounter 'distant' in travel descriptions (e.g., 'We traveled to a distant land'), historical accounts (e.g., 'It happened in the distant past'), personal relationships (e.g., 'He felt distant from his family'), and even in describing sounds or sights (e.g., 'I heard a distant siren'). It's a versatile adjective used across various everyday and more formal contexts.

Similar Words Comparison:

Far: Often interchangeable with 'distant' when referring to physical space (e.g., 'a far country' vs. 'a distant country'). However, 'far' is less commonly used for emotional or temporal distance.

Remote: Similar to 'distant' in meaning 'far away', often implying isolation or being hard to reach (e.g., 'a remote village'). It can also mean unlikely ('a remote chance').

Apart: Usually refers to physical separation between two or more things or people (e.g., 'The houses are far apart'). It can also mean separated in time or opinion.

Aloof: Specifically relates to emotional distance, suggesting unfriendliness or a lack of involvement (e.g., 'He was aloof and unapproachable'). 'Distant' can imply this, but also simply a lack of closeness without necessarily being unfriendly.

Exemples

From our hotel, we could see the distant mountains.

everyday

Desde nuestro hotel, podíamos ver las montañas lejanas.

In the distant future, humanity might colonize other planets.

academic

En el futuro lejano, la humanidad podría colonizar otros planetas.

He sounded quite distant on the phone, as if he wasn't really listening.

informal

Sonaba bastante distante al teléfono, como si no estuviera escuchando realmente.

She felt a sense of distant kinship with the old photographs.

literary

Sentía una especie de parentesco lejano con las viejas fotografías.

Collocations courantes

distant memory recuerdo lejano

distant future futuro lejano

distant relative pariente lejano

distant sound sonido lejano

distant star estrella distante

Phrases Courantes

a distant second

un segundo lugar muy lejano (en una competencia)

on distant shores

en costas lejanas

distant relative

pariente lejano

Souvent confondu avec

distant vs far

'Far' primarily refers to physical distance and is often used in comparisons. 'Distant' can also refer to emotional or temporal separation, and often implies a less specific or more evocative sense of remoteness.

distant vs remote

'Remote' often emphasizes isolation and difficulty of access, like a 'remote island'. 'Distant' is more general for anything not close, without necessarily implying isolation.

distant vs aloof

'Aloof' specifically means emotionally reserved, cool, and unfriendly. 'Distant' can mean this, but can also simply mean not close or connected, without the negative connotation of unfriendliness.

Modèles grammaticaux

distant + noun (e.g., distant galaxy) distant + from + noun/pronoun (e.g., distant from the city, distant from his family) It sounds distant. It seems distant.

How to Use It

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Notes d'usage

The word 'distant' is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It's important to consider whether you are referring to physical space, time, or emotional connection when using it. Pay attention to the context to ensure the meaning is clear.

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Erreurs courantes

Students sometimes use 'distant' when they mean 'far apart' (e.g., 'The houses are distant'). The correct phrasing would be 'The houses are far apart' or 'The houses are at a distance'. Also, avoid using 'distant' for very short time frames; 'recent' or 'immediate' would be more appropriate.

Tips

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Visualize the Space

Imagine a map or a timeline when you see 'distant'. It helps to picture the actual space or time separating things.

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Don't Confuse with 'Distance'

'Distant' is an adjective describing something, while 'distance' is a noun referring to the space or interval itself.

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Cultural Perceptions of Distance

What is considered 'distant' can vary culturally. In large countries, a few hundred miles might be considered close, while in smaller nations, it could be very distant.

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Origine du mot

The word 'distant' comes from the Latin word 'distans', meaning 'standing apart'. It derives from 'distare', which is a combination of 'dis-' (apart) and 'stare' (to stand).

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Contexte culturel

In some cultures, maintaining a certain 'distant' demeanor in initial interactions can be seen as polite or respectful, while in others, it might be perceived as cold or unfriendly. Personal space norms often relate to the perception of 'distance'.

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Astuce mémo

Think of 'distant' like a 'distant' relative you rarely see – they are not close in relationship, just like a distant place is not close in space.

Questions fréquentes

4 questions

Yes, 'distant' is often used to describe emotional states or relationships. For example, someone might feel 'distant' from their friends, meaning they feel emotionally disconnected or less close than before.

While often interchangeable for physical space ('distant city' vs. 'far city'), 'distant' can also strongly imply emotional or temporal separation, which 'far' typically does not.

It refers to a time that is far away in the past or future. Examples include 'a distant memory' (something from long ago) or 'in the distant future' (a time far ahead).

Not necessarily. While it can imply emotional coldness or lack of connection, it can also simply describe a neutral physical or temporal separation without any negative judgment.

Teste-toi

fill blank

Choose the best word to complete the sentence.

The stars appear as tiny points of light from our _______ planet.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : distant

'Distant' is used here to describe the stars being far away from Earth.

multiple choice

Select the sentence that correctly uses the word 'distant'.

Which sentence uses 'distant' correctly?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : All of the above.

All options correctly use 'distant' to describe emotional distance, a physical sound far away, and a future goal.

sentence building

Arrange the words to form a grammatically correct sentence using 'distant'.

memory / a / distant / was / it

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : It was a distant memory.

This sentence correctly places 'distant' as an adjective modifying 'memory'.

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Summary