in the distance vs at the distance

The phrase 'in the distance' is correct and commonly used in English to refer to something that is far away. On the other hand, 'at the distance' is not a common phrase in English and is not used to express the same idea.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 6286 views

in the distance

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to something that is far away.

Use 'in the distance' to describe something that is far away from the speaker or observer.

Examples:

I saw a ship on the horizon in the distance.
The mountains looked blue in the distance.
She could hear music playing softly in the distance.
The city lights twinkled in the distance.
A figure appeared in the distance.

Show examples from the web [+]

There's smoke in the distance.
Now... there's a mountain in the distance.
Then he'd look off someplace in the distance
Surely though, the Huggy Bear-mobile would struggle to do 0 to 50 to 0 in the distance.
We'll start on the church in the distance, we'll pan down from the steeple, to find you here with all the people.
There's a house in the distance.
~ Lights in the distance, heading this way.
There in the distance we witness the destruction of Athens.
There's a fire in the distance.
It is out there, looming in the distance.
I think I see another boat out in the distance.
We can see things in the distance using a telescope.
It's also a live mine, so there'll be dynamite explosions going off in the distance.
Sure, as long as he doesn't do that "point in the distance" thing.
They were off in the distance, and there was no...
You see that dot in the distance?
And we could hear voices in the distance but we were pretty sure no one could actually see us.
A night watchman in the area thought he heard a baby crying in the distance around 2:30 a.m.
(WHISPERING) Now, up ahead, a castle in the distance.
I can see in the distance right now several plumes of smoke.

Alternatives:

far away
far off
far in the distance
off in the distance
distant

at the distance

This phrase is not a common construction in English and is not used to convey the idea of something being far away.

Show examples from the web [+]

To be measured at the distance from the reference plane indicated in millimetres behind the stroke.
Sir, Warden Rossignol clearly states that he identified me at the distance of 200 yards at sunset.
Look at the distance between the blood drops.
Look at the distance Between where each Of the arms were tied.
With proportional pilot control, ideally, the piston follows the continuous axial movement of the plunger precisely at the distance that creates this equilibrium.
So these things are sitting in deep freeze, sort of at the distance halfway between us and the nearest stars.
For the measurement of back pressure, the pressure tap must be placed at the distance from the exhaust manifold specified in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

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in the distance vs at the distance

in the distance

at the distance

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