* Adjective: This is the most common usage, describing something that is far away in space, time, or relationship. Example: "The distant mountains were covered in snow."
* Noun: "The distant" can refer to a place that is far away, but it's not used very often. Example: "They longed for the distant, but knew it would never be theirs."
* Verb: "To distant" means to move away or separate oneself. It's quite rare. Example: "He distanted himself from the group after the argument."
So, without context, "distant" is most likely an adjective.