farther

[ fahr-ther ]

adverb

1. at or to a greater distance:

   He went farther down the road.

2. at or to a more advanced point:

   They are going no farther in their studies.

3. at or to a greater degree or extent:

   The application of the law was extended farther.

adjective

1. more distant or remote than something or some place nearer:

   the farther side of the mountain.

2. extending or tending to a greater distance:

   He made a still farther trip.

3. Nonstandard. further ( defs 5, 6 ).

farther

/ ˈfɑːðə /

adverb

1. to or at a greater distance in space or time
2. in addition

adjective

1. more distant or remote in space or time
2. additional

Usage

Farther, farthest, further, and furthest can all be used to refer to literal distance, but further and furthest are regarded as more correct for figurative senses denoting greater or additional amount, time, etc: further to my letter . Further and furthest are also preferred for figurative distance

Confusables Note

Although some usage guides insist that only farther should be used for physical distance ( We walked farther than we planned ), farther and further have been used interchangeably throughout much of their histories. However, only further is used in the adverbial sense “moreover” ( Further, you hurt my feelings ) and in the adjectival senses “more extended” ( no further comment ) and “additional” ( Further bulletins came in ). The expression all the farther (or further ) in place of as far as occurs chiefly in informal speech: This is all the farther the train goes. all.

Word History and Origins

Origin of farther¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ferther; originally variant of further

Word History and Origins

Origin of farther¹

C13: see far , further

Idioms and Phrases

see can't see beyond (farther than) the end of one's nose .

Example Sentences

By indicting corporate and finance capitalism, I went farther than Brooks, an entertaining celebrant of corporate consumer marketing and a scourge of neoliberals who make great shows of rectifying turbo capitalism's brutalities with “glass ceiling” gestures.

From Salon

By 11 a.m., widespread evacuations were ordered as the blaze marched toward the Camarillo foothills and higher into the mountains — where winds blew stronger, pushing stray embers even farther ahead of the blaze, officials reported.

From Los Angeles Times

Fierce Santa Ana winds were expected to ease somewhat Friday, lessening the chance of the fire spreading farther.

From Los Angeles Times

Grab dinner at nearby old-school haunt Chez Jay or head a little farther afield for a knee-wobbling mai tai at the Galley.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite my carefully curated way of moving through L.A. — having made a transition from motorist to cyclist that felt so special — I never once, in nearly 10 years of good intentions, bragging and evangelizing about cycling, had had the good sense to head farther west so I could finish the last few miles of my ride on the beach bike path that now seemed so obviously the best way to go.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• further