far-between
Definition
- Adjective (used postpositively):
- Infrequent or widely spaced: "far-between" describes events, occurrences, or objects that are separated by large intervals of time or distance; not happening often or not found close together.
Usage Examples
- (His visits were infrequent and occurred after long intervals.)
- (Such opportunities are not common and appear rarely.)
Advanced Usage
- "far and far-between": an emphatic form meaning extremely infrequent or rare.
- In this remote village, modern amenities are far and far-between. (Modern amenities are very scarce and seldom seen.)
Variants and Related Words
- Far-between (adj): the standard form; used to indicate scarcity or rarity.
- Far-betweenness (n): the quality or state of being infrequent or widely spaced.
- The far-betweenness of his letters worried his family. (The infrequency of his letters caused concern.)
Synonyms
- Rare: not occurring very often.
- Scarce: insufficient in quantity or number.
- Infrequent: happening at irregular or long intervals.
Related Idioms
- Few and far between: a common idiomatic phrase meaning very rare or uncommon.
- Good friends are few and far between. (Truly good friends are very rare.)