distantly

Distantly is an English adverb that denotes doing or existing with distance or remoteness. It can describe physical separation, such as something seen or heard from afar, as well as temporal distance (an event in the distant past) or emotional and intellectual remoteness (a distant attitude or relationship). In usage, distantly often implies a lack of close proximity or direct engagement.

Etymology and form: Distantly is formed from the adjective distant plus the adverbial suffix -ly. The adjective distant derives from Latin distantus via Old French distant, and the adverbial form distantly appears in English through the development of -ly adverbs from adjectives.

Usage notes: Distantly is more common in formal or literary contexts than in everyday speech, where simpler terms like far away or remotely may be preferred. It commonly appears in phrases such as distantly related, distantly remembered, or distantly observed, where it signals a degree of separation rather than immediacy. The word can convey a neutral, objective tone or a subtly detached or clinical nuance, depending on context.

Examples: The mountain range could be seen distantly through the morning haze. The two families are distantly related, connected only by a long-ago common ancestor. The old radio crackled distantly, barely audible over the wind.

See also: distant, distance, distantly related, remoteness.