Origin: Latin suffix -ance
Distance has 10 different meanings across 2 categories:
the property created by the space between two objects or points
"The safety of the bridge depends entirely on maintaining a sufficient distance between the support pillars to withstand heavy traffic loads."
a remote point in time
"if that happens it will be at some distance in the future"
"at a distance of ten years he had forgotten many of the details"
The amount of space between two points, usually geographical points, usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
"The new highway will cut the driving distance between the city and the coast in half."
In plain English: Distance is how far apart two places are from each other.
"The distance between our two cities is about five hundred miles."
Usage: Use distance to describe the measurable space separating two specific locations, such as the miles between cities or the feet from a starting line. Avoid using it for abstract emotional gaps unless you are explicitly comparing them to physical measurements.
keep at a distance
"we have to distance ourselves from these events in order to continue living"
To move away (from) someone or something.
"After he shouted at me, I felt it necessary to distance myself from the argument and walk back toward my car."
In plain English: To distance yourself means to create space between you and someone else so they can't get too close.
"The new highway will distance us from the city center."
Usage: Use distance as a verb when describing the act of moving physically away from someone or something to create space. It is often used in contexts like distancing oneself from a conflict or retreating from danger.
The word "distance" entered English from Anglo-Norman and Middle French, where it originally meant disagreement, conflict, or a difference of opinion. Over time, the term shifted to describe the physical space between two points, though it still retains its older sense of separation in phrases like "at a distance."