keep one's distance

dis·tance

K k

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [dis-tuh ns]
- /kip wʌnz ˈdɪs təns/
- /kiːp wʌnz ˈdɪstəns/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [dis-tuh ns]
- /kip wʌnz ˈdɪs təns/

Definitions of keep one's distance words

noun keep one's distance the extent or amount of space between two things, points, lines, etc. 1
noun keep one's distance the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another; remoteness. 1
noun keep one's distance a linear extent of space: Seven miles is a distance too great to walk in an hour. 1
noun keep one's distance an expanse; area: A vast distance of water surrounded the ship. 1
noun keep one's distance the interval between two points of time; an extent of time: His vacation period was a good distance away. 1
noun keep one's distance remoteness or difference in any respect: Our philosophies are a long distance apart. 1

See all 25 definitions of keep one's distance

Information block about the term

Origin of keep one's distance

First appearance:

before 1250

One of the 11% oldest English words

1250-1300; Middle English < Latin distantia, equivalent to distant- (see distant) + -ia -y3; replacing Middle English destaunce < Anglo-French

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Keep one's distance

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Keep one's distance

keep one's distance popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

Synonyms for keep one's distance

verb keep one's distance

beware — If you tell someone to beware of a person or thing, you are warning them that the person or thing may harm them or be dangerous.
have nothing to do with — not associate with
laugh off — to express mirth, pleasure, derision, or nervousness with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs that can range from a loud burst of sound to a series of quiet chuckles and is usually accompanied by characteristic facial and bodily movements.
let go — to move or proceed, especially to or from something: They're going by bus.
live with — to have life, as an organism; be alive; be capable of vital functions: all things that live.

All 7 Synonyms of keep one's distance

Matching words

Was this page helpful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page

Tell us why?