felt far away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "felt far away" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a sense of emotional or physical distance from a person, place, or situation. Example: "As I listened to the stories of my childhood, the memories felt far away, almost like they belonged to someone else."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Yet, the reverberations were felt far away.

The New York Times

We all went out for ice cream afterward, I think, but in my mind I felt far away.

University of California, Berkeley

The effects may also be felt far away from the localities where immigration enforcement is most aggressive.

Stanford University

Guns were scary, but for the most part they felt far away.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it felt far away, and nothing there seemed worth the price.

The New York Times

Kiarostami opted for Japan because it felt far away, neither Muslim nor western; a fresh adventure with no baggage attached.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Those days still feel far away, though.

The New York Times - Sports

Ocean's Eleven feels far away.

The Guardian

For the moment, though, civilian rule still feels far away.

The New York Times

That accomplishment, Rose said, now feels far away.

The Washington Post

"We've grown accustomed to this lifestyle, and Montclair feels far away.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "felt far away" to describe a situation, memory, or emotion that seems distant either in time, space, or emotional connection.

Common error

While "felt far away" can describe physical distance, it is more effective when used to convey emotional or temporal distance. Avoid using it solely for situations where 'distant' or 'remote' would be more appropriate to convey literal distance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "felt far away" primarily functions as a subjective description, indicating a sense of distance or detachment from something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. It suggests that the subject experienced a feeling of separation, whether emotional, temporal, or physical.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "felt far away" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a subjective sense of distance or detachment. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct, appearing frequently in contexts like News & Media and Academia. When writing, consider using it to convey emotional, temporal, or physical distance, but be mindful that it is most effective when conveying emotional or temporal distance. Alternatives include "seemed distant" or "felt detached" depending on the specific nuance you aim to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seemed distant

This alternative replaces the verb "felt" with "seemed" and uses the adjective "distant" to convey a sense of emotional or physical separation.

appeared remote

Uses "appeared" instead of "felt" and "remote" to emphasize the lack of connection or involvement.

felt detached

Replaces "far away" with "detached" to directly describe a state of being separated or disconnected.

felt alienated

Suggests a stronger sense of estrangement or being excluded, implying a more emotional disconnect.

felt disconnected

Similar to "felt detached", but emphasizes the broken connection rather than the state of separation.

seemed unreal

Shifts the focus to the perception of reality, suggesting that something felt too distant to be real.

felt like a dream

Uses a simile to describe the feeling of something being distant and intangible, similar to a dream.

felt otherworldly

Emphasizes the strangeness and unfamiliarity of something, making it feel distant from everyday reality.

seemed a lifetime ago

Highlights the temporal distance, suggesting that something happened so long ago that it feels disconnected from the present.

felt like another world

Emphasizes the complete difference and separation between two things, making something feel distant and unfamiliar.

FAQs

How can I use "felt far away" in a sentence?

You can use "felt far away" to describe a sense of emotional or physical distance. For instance, "As I listened to the stories of my childhood, the memories "felt far away", almost like they belonged to someone else."

What are some alternatives to "felt far away"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "seemed distant", "appeared remote", or "felt detached".

Is it better to say "felt distant" or "felt far away"?

Both "felt distant" and "felt far away" are correct, but "felt far away" often implies a greater sense of emotional or temporal separation. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Can "felt far away" be used to describe physical distance?

Yes, but it's more commonly used to describe emotional or temporal distance. For physical distance, words like "distant" or "remote" might be more precise.