1. Referring to how something or someone is remotely situated: Jack and Jill were so distantly separated in the train that they could only see each other, but not talk to each other.
2. Pertaining to how a person perceives something: While Jack was telling Anita about his trip to Canada in the past, she distantly recalled the photos he had shown her back then.
3. Relating to how an individual does or says something in an unemotional or uninvolved way: "Have a nice time on your journey," the taxi driver said politely, but distantly, while his passengers were getting off at the airport.