distances 1 of 2

noun

plural of distance
1
as in lengths
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects the distance between the earth and the sun is about 93 million miles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in expanses
a wide space or area a region marked by great, featureless distances

Synonyms & Similar Words

distances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of distance
1
as in retreats

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in ditches

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distances
Noun
The approach, developed by a team led by researchers from York University in Toronto, could improve how humanoid robots judge distances, recognize object orientation, and navigate complex environments. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026 Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 Max Scherzer may be the last starter in baseball who continues to run distances after pitching to maintain strong endurance on the mound. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 Matt Martin, 47th, would allow one interior exit stairs in new apartment buildings up to five stories and no more than four units per floor, while ensuring that every building has sprinklers, short travel distances, fire alarms and smoke detection. — Adam Drakulic, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 Reduce driving speeds, increase following distances, and use only low beam headlights. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 Aug. 2026 Rainfall amounts will vary considerably because thunderstorms can produce very different totals over short distances. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 The mission also carries instruments from Egypt, Switzerland, Bahrain and Italy; the latter country’s instrument is a small laser retroreflector on the lander that can be used to precisely measure distances from orbiters to the lunar surface. — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026 Other customizable features include RGB lighting and adjustable actuation distances. — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distances
  1. lengths
  2. expanses
  3. retreats
  4. ditches
  5. spacings
  6. expansions
  7. recedes
  8. deserts
Noun
  • But no other race has gone to the same lengths that the Vuelta has with Jons to reach new audiences.
    — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The first two belong to the same patent family and concern tools used to assemble digital garments from two-dimensional pattern pieces, including functions that help designers match the lengths of segments being virtually sewn together.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of lengths
Noun
  • The umbral shadow will first appear as a small semicircle of shadow close to the dark expanses of Oceanus Procellarum (the Ocean of Storms) and Mare Humorum on the moon's southwestern edge, before swiftly spreading to swallow the nearby moonscape.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Security Meets Style Expect larger expanses of glass, slimmer frames, and design that blurs the line between indoors and out.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of expanses
Verb
  • With the bulk of his work at practice done for the day, Achord retreats to the back of the end zone with Koonz, squatting and scribbling something on paper.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Twice a day, the tide retreats from the shoreline, sometimes for up to two miles.
    — Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of retreats
Verb
  • Like the Pro series, the Pixel 11 ditches the Pixel 10's forward-facing metal trim and goes fully black instead.
    — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Our shortcut version also ditches the eggs for mayonnaise and adds in capers for extra briny punch.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2026
Definition of ditches
Noun
  • Several spacings and gaps were potential vermin entrances including spacing and gaps between floor boards, a vertical air gap along double front doors and on the ceiling above the ice cream chest freezer in the retail aisle.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado Updated January 23, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • More distant spacings will leave gaps in the bed.
    — Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of spacings
Noun
  • The expansions at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids and Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital are focused on two fast-growing regions of Michigan.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • As artificial intelligence usage increases rapidly, data center construction and expansions are rising to meet the need at the same time there is rising bipartisan concern locally and nationally about that growth.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of expansions
Verb
  • Desertification, a process where vegetation recedes because of high heat and low rainfall, threatens much of the Great Hungarian Plain.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Aromas grow more tannic with time as the fruit recedes into the background—except for apricot, which remains pronounced throughout.
    — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of recedes
Verb
  • The lowland deserts with cacti and catclaw brush are Gambel’s quail habitat.
    — Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026
  • And a $208 million Rural Health Transformation award now lets Arkansas confront the maternity care deserts the national conversation overlooks—because when the nearest delivery unit is an hour away, distance itself is a risk factor.
    — John Boozman, Time, 23 June 2026
Definition of deserts

Browse Nearby Words

distanced
distances
distancing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Distances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distances. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All