dis·tant 
/ˈdɪstənt/ adjective
/ˈdɪstənt/ adjective 1 [more distant; most distant] : existing or happening far away in space : separated by space
▪ astronomers studying distant galaxies ▪ They visited all sorts of distant [=far-off] places. ▪ He finished the race a distant second. [=he was the second person to finish the race but he was far behind the winner] ▪ The town is about 30 miles distant. [=(more commonly) away] 2 always used before a noun [more distant; most distant] : far away in time : happening far in the past or far into the future
▪ In the distant past, dinosaurs roamed the earth. ▪ The day I left home is now a distant memory. ▪ the distant future ▪ We're expecting major changes in the not too distant future. [=soon] 3 always used before a noun [more distant; most distant] — used to describe a relative who is not closely related to you ▪ She's a distant cousin of mine. ▪ Some of my more distant relatives still live there. — opposite close; compare immediate 4 : having to do with something that is not related to what is happening where you are or at the present time
▪ His mind drifted to distant thoughts. ▪ I remember when the restaurant's opening was nothing more than a distant possibility. ▪ She has a distant look in her eye. [=the look on her face shows that she is thinking about something that is not related to what is happening now] 5 [more distant; most distant] somewhat formal : not friendly or showing emotion
▪ People did not like her distant manner. ▪ He was cold and distant. 6 [more distant; most distant] : not like someone or something else — usually + from ▪ The values of that time seem very distant [=different] from our own.
▪ astronomers studying distant galaxies ▪ They visited all sorts of distant [=far-off] places. ▪ He finished the race a distant second. [=he was the second person to finish the race but he was far behind the winner] ▪ The town is about 30 miles distant. [=(more commonly) away]
▪ In the distant past, dinosaurs roamed the earth. ▪ The day I left home is now a distant memory. ▪ the distant future ▪ We're expecting major changes in the not too distant future. [=soon]
▪ His mind drifted to distant thoughts. ▪ I remember when the restaurant's opening was nothing more than a distant possibility. ▪ She has a distant look in her eye. [=the look on her face shows that she is thinking about something that is not related to what is happening now]
▪ People did not like her distant manner. ▪ He was cold and distant.
the dim and distant past
chiefly Brit : a time that is so far in the past it is difficult to remember
▪ I remember the dim and distant past when the town was much smaller.
▪ I remember the dim and distant past when the town was much smaller.
— dis·tant·ly adverb
▪ We are distantly related to each other. ▪ She stared distantly out the window.
▪ We are distantly related to each other. ▪ She stared distantly out the window.
