Definition and Pronunciation
Long-distance relationship (LDR) is a romantic relationship in which the partners live far apart and cannot meet regularly in person. Because of the physical distance, they typically maintain their relationship through phone calls, text messages, video chats, social media, emails, and occasional visits.
Pronunciation: LONG DIS-tuhns ri-LAY-shuhn-ship
Easy Explanation
A long-distance relationship is a romantic relationship where the partners live in different cities, states, or countries, making frequent face-to-face meetings difficult.
Despite the distance, many couples maintain strong relationships through regular communication, trust, emotional support, and planned visits. Some long-distance relationships eventually become long-term partnerships, marriages, or cohabiting relationships.
Grammatical Formation
- Part of speech: Noun
- Abbreviation: LDR
- Plural form: Long-distance relationships
- Related terms: Romantic relationship, dating, online relationship
Word Comparisons
Long-Distance Relationship vs. Traditional Relationship
A long-distance relationship involves partners who live far apart. A traditional (geographically close) relationship allows partners to meet in person more frequently.
Long-Distance Relationship vs. Online Relationship
An online relationship begins or exists primarily through the internet and may or may not involve physical meetings. A long-distance relationship usually refers to an established romantic relationship where distance separates the partners, whether they met online or in person.
Long-Distance Relationship vs. Casual Relationship
A casual relationship generally has limited commitment or expectations. A long-distance relationship can be either casual or highly committed; the defining feature is physical distance rather than the level of commitment.
Long-Distance Relationship vs. Marriage
Some married couples temporarily experience a long-distance marriage because of work, education, military service, or other circumstances. Marriage and long-distance relationships are not mutually exclusive.
Connotations
The term long-distance relationship generally has a neutral meaning. It is commonly associated with trust, communication, patience, emotional intimacy, commitment, and the challenges of maintaining a relationship across geographic distance.
Meaning with Prepositions
Long-distance relationship with
Example: Jordan is in a long-distance relationship with Alex.
Long-distance relationship between
Example: The long-distance relationship between the couple lasted three years.
Long-distance relationship across
Example: They maintained a long-distance relationship across two countries.
Long-distance relationship after
Example: They began a long-distance relationship after one partner moved abroad.
Real-Life Examples
A university student studying overseas may remain in a relationship with a partner back home. Similarly, military personnel, international workers, or professionals relocating for employment may maintain long-distance relationships through regular communication and scheduled visits until they can live together again.
Synonyms
- LDR
- Long-distance romance
- Distance relationship
- Geographically separated relationship
Antonyms
- Local relationship
- Cohabiting relationship
- Living-together relationship
- Geographically close relationship
Related Terms
- Dating
- Romantic relationship
- Online relationship
- Romantic partner
- Dating partner
- Cohabitation
- Marriage
- Love
- Commitment
- Emotional intimacy
- Communication
- Trust
- Relationship
- Humansexuality
- Video calling
Common Collocations
- Long-distance relationship
- Long-distance partner
- Long-distance couple
- Long-distance dating
- Long-distance marriage
- Maintain a long-distance relationship
- Long-distance communication
- Long-distance relationship challenges
- Long-distance relationship advice
- Long-distance relationship success
- Healthy long-distance relationship
- Long-distance relationship goals
Idiomatic and Figurative Usage
Long-distance relationship is a descriptive relationship term. It has no established idiomatic or figurative meaning.
Sample Sentences
- They maintained a long-distance relationship for two years.
- Regular communication helped strengthen their relationship.
- Trust is important in long-distance relationships.
- Video calls allowed them to stay emotionally connected.
- Many long-distance couples eventually live together.
- Every long-distance relationship has unique challenges.
- Honest communication supports healthy relationships.
- Distance does not necessarily prevent a successful partnership.
Connection to Sexuality
A long-distance relationship is a type of romantic relationship, not a sexual orientation or gender identity. It may involve emotional intimacy, romantic attraction, and, when partners meet in person, sexual intimacy. However, many long-distance couples spend extended periods without physical contact while maintaining strong emotional bonds.
Understanding long-distance relationships helps distinguish between relationship structures, romantic attraction, sexual relationships, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It also highlights the importance of communication, trust, mutual respect, and commitment in maintaining healthy relationships across geographic distance.
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