be increasingly distant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be increasingly distant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is becoming more remote or detached over time. Example: "As the years went by, he began to feel that his friends would be increasingly distant, as they all pursued their own lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

His reaction shocked very few: the ANC is routinely dismissive of civil society voices and is increasingly distant from the concerns of its poor, mass base.

The Guardian - Opinion

Government since 2010 has been increasingly distant in its relationship with individual local authorities, prompting councils to come together to advocate or access resources.

The Guardian

No such compromise is acceptable to Elliot, who is increasingly distant as Dorian slips into a near-suicidal, drug-addled breakdown and is ultimately fired.

The New York Times

He was probably the last great lyric tenor in a noble line: his kind of music - by Puccini, Verdi and other Italian operatic greats - is increasingly distant from contemporary taste.

The Guardian

Is Sara – a mother who's willing to kill to protect her son – a better person than Old Joe, a man who'll kill to save a life that's increasingly distant?

The Guardian - Film

They find themselves disoriented by their newfound alienation: from a youth culture to which they are increasingly distant, from their own dreams of middle-class uplift and of American worldwide hegemony, from a country that is increasingly multicultural and, yes, led by a progressive black president.

The New York Times

What's going so spectacularly wrong with Beckett in the modern era is that the further time gets away from the original context of the scripts, the more the strict edicts of the Beckett estate trap the work in a mode of communication that's increasingly distant from its audience.

The Guardian

Four consecutive defeats have ended any hopes of making the play-offs and chances of qualifying for the Heineken Cup are increasingly distant.

BBC

The ground further in front of the aircraft also caused returns, but these were increasingly distant (see slant range) and only some of the signal was reflected back at the aircraft while an increasing portion was scattered forward and away.

Wikipedia

The argument goes that less constrained parts of a gene could be increasingly difficult to align for increasingly distant lineages, leading to gaps in the alignment, whereas more conserved parts of the gene are still easily aligned in distant species comparisons.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Samples from the rest of Southeast Asia, Africa and South America were increasingly more distant, demonstrating a high-resolution genomic-geographic continuum.

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be increasingly distant" to describe a gradual process of separation, whether it's physical, emotional, or metaphorical. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is becoming distant from what.

Common error

Avoid using "be increasingly distant" when a sudden or abrupt separation is intended. This phrase implies a gradual process, so choose alternatives like "suddenly separated" or "immediately detached" for scenarios where the separation is immediate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be increasingly distant" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to indicate a gradual process of separation or detachment. Although there are no direct Ludwig examples to reference, the structure itself is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be increasingly distant" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a gradual separation or detachment. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase itself is valid, although there are no examples found in the provided data. While the phrase is versatile enough to be used across various registers, it implies a process occurring over time rather than a sudden shift. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies what is moving away from what. Consider alternatives such as "become progressively detached" or "grow steadily apart" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become progressively detached

Focuses on emotional or personal detachment, emphasizing a gradual shift.

grow steadily apart

Suggests a relationship or connection is weakening over time.

become more alienated

Focuses on a sense of estrangement or isolation.

drift further away

Implies a gradual and passive separation, often emotionally.

move further from

Indicates a directional separation, whether physical or metaphorical.

get more remote

Emphasizes a physical or emotional distance that is growing.

become progressively estranged

Implies a breakdown in a relationship, leading to separation.

recede into the distance

Conveys a sense of fading or becoming less prominent.

veer away more and more

Suggests a deliberate change in direction or alignment.

lose touch gradually

Highlights a decline in communication or connection.

FAQs

How can I use "be increasingly distant" in a sentence?

You can use "be increasingly distant" to describe a gradual separation or detachment. For example, "As he focused on his career, he felt himself "be increasingly distant" from his family".

What's a formal alternative to "be increasingly distant"?

A more formal alternative could be "become progressively detached" or "grow steadily apart". These options maintain a professional tone while conveying a similar meaning of gradual separation.

What does it mean when something is "be increasingly distant"?

It means that something is gradually becoming more separate, remote, or detached over time. It implies a process of moving away, either physically, emotionally, or metaphorically.

How does "be increasingly distant" differ from "suddenly detached"?

"Be increasingly distant" describes a gradual process of separation, while "suddenly detached" implies an immediate and abrupt separation. The former suggests a slow drift, while the latter indicates a sharp break.