a distant explosion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distant explosion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the sound or occurrence of an explosion that is far away from the observer. Example: "As we hiked through the mountains, we suddenly heard a distant explosion echoing through the valleys."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A distant explosion sounded.

The New York Times

Lopatin sets up this chord-and-melody relationship and then refuses to make it repeat concisely; instead, he surrounds the notes with a billowing sound, like a distant explosion, and a drone envelops the song as the piano finally settles on four chords, which repeat for two minutes, until, abruptly, the song ends.

The New Yorker

A large tidal wave, triggered by a distant explosion, threatens to drown the island of Atlantis.

Wikipedia

Yet we've recently observed gamma rays of quite different wavelengths race for billions of years through space from a distant explosion, arriving in a photo finish within a hundredth of a second of each other.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The sky was filled with tracers and a few times the alarm warning of rockets was interrupted by the whistle of them overhead, and a close or distant explosion.

The New York Times

Jokey routines with gas masks, rifles, bayonets and helmets indicate just how far this up-itself crew has trivialised the horror of the first world war, though billowing curtains - as if blown in by some distant explosion - are a reminder of their ongoing insecurity.

The Guardian - Music

Edmond's badly scarred back and possible telepathy are alluded to but never explained, and the film's woozy, dreamlike atmosphere is more art-house than multiplex.But even the early enigmatic mood won't prepare viewers for what comes next: a distant atomic explosion, which the characters experience as a snow shower of ash, signals the start of a third world war.

The Economist

Though the weapon was unarmed, witnesses said they were struck more than anything by the striking beauty of the distant explosion.

Independent

When light from the supernova's distant explosion first reached Earth about 400 years ago, it could have outshone its parent galaxy for several days and was probably visible to the naked eye for months.

Science Magazine

In the not too distant explosion of IPOs from Linkedin, Facebook, Zynga, Groupon and others, I am hoping some of that good fortune helps fund the next Winter's Bone, or Sling Blade, keeping the spirit and energy of our creative class in the business of creating art from life.

Huffington Post

"Distant explosions is not a cool feel right now," one Twitter user posted.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene, use "a distant explosion" to create a sense of unease or foreshadowing without explicitly detailing immediate danger. It can set the tone for impending conflict or revelation.

Common error

Avoid using "a distant explosion" when you actually mean a small or weak explosion nearby. Distance refers to spatial separation, not the power of the blast. If the explosion is weak but close, use "a small explosion" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distant explosion" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "distant" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "explosion". Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It describes an explosion that is not near in proximity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a distant explosion" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that describes an explosion occurring far away. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and examples showcase its versatility across different contexts, including news, wikis, and scientific reports. While not extremely common, it effectively sets a scene or conveys information about a remote event. Remember to use it when spatial separation is the key characteristic you want to emphasize, differentiating it from merely small or faint explosions. Consider alternatives like "a faraway blast" or "an explosion in the distance" for nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a faraway blast

Replaces "explosion" with "blast" and "distant" with "faraway", maintaining the sense of an explosion at a considerable distance.

an explosion in the distance

Rephrases the phrase to emphasize the location of the explosion as being "in the distance", maintaining a similar meaning.

a remote detonation

Substitutes "distant" with "remote" and "explosion" with "detonation", suggesting a far-off and controlled blast.

a faint explosion

Focuses on the audibility of the explosion rather than the distance, describing it as weak or indistinct.

a faraway rumble

Shifts the focus from the explosion itself to the sound it produces, describing it as a low, distant rumbling.

a faint detonation

Similar to 'a faint explosion', but uses the more technical term 'detonation' to describe the event.

an echoing blast

Highlights the reverberating sound of a distant blast, focusing on its auditory qualities.

a far-off detonation

Emphasizes the physical separation of the explosion event using "far-off", rather than the more simple "distant."

a muffled blast

Focuses on the sound quality of a muted or obscured blast.

a receding explosion

Implies the sound or impact of the explosion is diminishing over time, suggesting movement away from the observer.

FAQs

How can I use "a distant explosion" in a sentence?

You can use "a distant explosion" to describe an explosion that occurred far away from the observer, such as: "As we hiked through the mountains, we suddenly heard "a distant explosion" echoing through the valleys."

What are some alternatives to saying "a distant explosion"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a faraway blast", "an explosion in the distance", or "a remote detonation", which convey similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

Is it correct to say "a far explosion" instead of "a distant explosion"?

While "far" and "distant" can be synonyms, "distant" is more commonly used and sounds more natural when describing the separation of an explosion. "A far explosion" is grammatically understandable but less idiomatic.

What is the difference between "a distant explosion" and "a faint explosion"?

"A distant explosion" emphasizes the location of the explosion being far away, while "a faint explosion" emphasizes the weakness of the sound, which could be due to distance or other factors like soundproofing or environmental conditions.