distancing

Verb

distance (third-person singular simple present distances, present participle distancing, simple past and past participle distanced)

1. (transitive) Often followed by from: to set (someone or something) at a distance (noun sense 1.1) from someone or something else.
   • If therefore the Interpoſition of Gloceſterſhire diſtanceth VVorceſterſhire from confining on the VVeſt-Saxons, the Animadvertor ought to have vented his diſpleaſure not on Me, but on Bede, and [Henry of] Huntington, vvhoſe vvords I exactly tranſlated.1659, Thomas Fuller, “The Second Book. Of the Conversion of the Saxons, and that which Followed thereupon till the Norman Conquest.”, in The Appeal of Iniured Innocence: Unto the Religious Learned...
2. (transitive) To cause (a place, a thing, etc.) to seem distant, or (figurative) unfamiliar.
   • That vvhich gives the Relievo to a Bovvl, (may ſome ſay to me) is the quick Light, or the vvhite, vvhich appears to be on the ſide, vvhich is neareſt to us, and the black by conſequence diſtances the Object: […]1695, [Roger de Piles], “Observations on the Art of Painting of Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy”, in C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting...
3. (transitive) To leave behind (someone or something moving in the same direction; specifically, other competitors in a race) some distance away; to outpace, to outstrip.
   • Our fleeter steeds have distanced our attendants; / They lag behind us with a slower pace; / We will await them under the green pendants / Of the great willows in this shady place.1851, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Golden Legend, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC, page 238

   Synonyms:

   outdistance, outgallop, outrun

4. (figuratively, transitive) To keep (someone) emotionally or socially apart from another person or people.
5. (figuratively, transitive) To exceed or surpass (someone, such as a peer or rival); to outdo, to outstrip.
6. (figuratively, reflexive, transitive) To keep (oneself) away from someone or something, especially because one does not want to be associated with that person or thing.
   • He distanced himself from the comments made by some of his colleagues.

See all 38 meanings of distance

Noun

social distancing (uncountable)

1. The practice of maintaining physical distance between people to reduce the spread of communicable diseases by isolating those with such diseases in quarantines, maintaining space between individuals, and prohibiting certain activities.
   • The Governor of an affected State implements isolation and/or social-distancing requirements using State/local legal authorities.2004, United States Department of Homeland Security, “Biological Incident Annex”, in National Response Plan, page 7

   Synonyms:

   physical distancing