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to distance

to distance

77 5.7
To make yourself less involved with someone or something
  • verb
  • /ˈdɪstəns/
translation icon : distanciarse (de)
  • If you're having trouble with your friends, your friends are starting to, like, distance themselves from you.
  • try to distance
  • attempt to distance
  • seek to distance

Either way, you should try to distance yourself from bad things.

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Examples

  • We denounce her and distance ourselves from her actions and media statements.

  • I just spent so many years, so many years trying to distance myself from the person I was.

  • You distance yourself from them or they distance themselves from you.

  • If you ever feel stuck, distance yourself from it.

  • Either way, you should try to distance yourself from bad things.

  • Why did you always distance yourself from me, John?

  • And, you know, I feel that... it's time for me to... distance myself from him.

  • Audrey walked toward another pavilion so as to distance herself from her mother.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • You're still a passive observer, but it doesn't distance you from the story.

  • It's important to distance yourself from negative influences in your life.

Synonyms

to stay away
vsto distance
590 1.6

Keep a distance from people or things you want to avoid

refers more to emotional or social withdrawal rather than only physical absence
to separate
vsto distance
481 2.9

To move apart or stop being together

describes becoming less involved emotionally or withdrawing from others
to isolate
vsto distance
256 4.2

To keep someone or something apart from others

focuses on personal withdrawal, not enforced or medical confinement
to keep away
vsto distance
187 1.6

Stop someone or something from coming near

focuses more on self withdrawing rather than preventing approach
to pull away
vsto distance
86 3.5

To move away from people or a place to create space

describes overall detachment or keeping apart rather than initial movement
to distance oneself from
vsto distance
75 7.0

Keep away from someone or something to show no connection

is the common phrase for stepping back and reducing involvement
to divorce
vsto distance
59 4.6

To separate yourself completely from someone or something

is less extreme, meaning to reduce involvement without fully ending ties
to push away
vsto distance
43 3.2

To stop other people from getting close to you emotionally

involves pulling back more generally rather than active rejection
to keep apart
vsto distance
41 3.2

To stop people or objects from touching and mixing

is mainly about withdrawing oneself emotionally rather than blocking others
to keep one's distance
vsto distance
32 3.9

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

is a broader way to withdraw emotionally or reduce involvement
to drift apart
vsto distance
17 3.7

To become less close to each other over time

is usually a deliberate withdrawal rather than a slow natural separation
to drift away
vsto distance
15 4.5

To slowly lose contact and closeness with someone

focuses on intentional detachment rather than gradual fading of contact
to estrange
vsto distance
  • Formal
2 7.5

Make someone feel distant from family or friends

describes self driven detachment rather than actively causing others to drift
to put daylight between
vsto distance
8.8

To create distance from someone or something to avoid being too close

is the plain term for stepping back without idiomatic imagery

Antonyms

572 1.8

Build a friendly relationship with someone by talking or listening

117 3.5

To keep someone's full attention

Idioms

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

Close enough to get what you want soon

Phrasal Verbs

Keep away from someone or something to show no connection

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

To keep working on a task until it is finished, even when it is hard

Compounds

50 3.0

A telephone call to a place far away that may cost more

46 3.2

A phone call to a place far away that costs extra

38 3.4

That goes over a large distance for travel, sport, or relationships

A phone conversation with someone in another area that costs extra

A short distance close enough to reach a goal, like a summit or victory

A person who takes part in races over long distances like marathons

The part of a picture or view between things near you and things far away

mean distance
  • Specialized
1 8.5

Average of the farthest and nearest distances of a planet or satellite from the body it orbits

A space between people that keeps them comfortable and respected

skip distance
  • Specialized
1 9.9

The shortest distance from a radio transmitter where radio waves bounced by the ionosphere can be picked up

distance vision
  • Specialized
4.2

Being able to see things clearly from far away

angular distance
  • Specialized
8.3

The angle between two vectors that shows how different they are

angular distance
  • Specialized
8.2

The angle between two objects as seen from one place, measured in degrees

focal distance
  • Specialized
5.2

The distance from a lens or mirror to the point where parallel light rays meet

hyperfocal distance
  • Specialized
9.1

Distance from the camera lens to the nearest point that looks sharp when the lens is focused very far away

How Distant

to sever
67 5.8
to withdraw
466 2.8
to distance
77 5.7
to avoid
1.0
to hold back
108 4.2

Surface Forms

distance infinitive
distanced past
distanced past participle
distancing present participle
distances third person singular

Etymology

The verb distance comes from Latin distare 'to stand apart', and it can also mean to keep away. So to distance yourself is to make yourself stand apart or be less involved with someone or something.