1. Descriptive of something which is far-off or remote: Lance was reading about people in distant and faraway countries when his father called him for dinner.
2. Characteristizing an event or a time that lies in the past or in the future: Aunt Jane still had distant memories of her children when they were babies.
3. Referring to a remote relative: Mrs. Thompson said she had a distant aunt and uncle who lived somewhere in Germany.
4. Concerning a person who is withdrawn, cool, or reserved: Gary could hardly start a conversation with his colleague because she was so distant, stiff, cold, and unapproachable.
5. Pertaining to an individual who is abstracted, faraway, or unaware: Mrs. Smith, Tim's teacher, noticed that he seemed to be preoccupied, inattentive, and distant, and wasn't concentrating on his work in class.