farther

1 of 2

adverb

far·​ther ˈfär-t͟hər 

1

: at or to a greater distance or more advanced point

got no farther than the first page

nothing could be farther from the truth

2

dated : to a greater degree or extent

… see to it that I do not have to act any farther in the matter …

—Bernard DeVoto

Farther vs. Further: Usage Guide

Further and farther share meanings relating to distance, whether spatial, temporal, or metaphorical. They're used interchangeably as adjectives meaning "more distant,"

the further/farther side

and also as adverbs meaning "at or to a greater distance or more advanced point."

going further/farther than before

They formerly shared other meanings as well, but in current use only further now commonly functions as an adjective meaning "additional,"

further study is needed

further education

and only further is commonly used as an adverb meaning "to a greater degree or extent."

wouldn't comment any further

and "in addition"

further, it's become clear that …

Further alone functions as a verb synonymous with promote, a meaning farther never had.

efforts to further our aims

We note that despite the word far appearing within farther, that pair is unrelated. Instead, farther is a variant of further that developed in the 14th century; further itself dates to Old English.

farther

2 of 2

adjective

1

: more distant : remoter

the farther side of town

2

dated : further sense 2

… clearing his throat preparatory to farther revelations.

—Edith Wharton

Synonyms of farther

Adverb

• further

Adjective

• further
• more
• else
• additional
• another

Examples of farther in a Sentence

Adverb

It's farther away than I'd thought.

they had traveled farther down the Colorado River than any previous explorers

Adjective

the farther side of town

for farther information on this condition, you should consult your family physician

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

However, if temperatures fall farther than expected the amounts could increase, forecasters added. —Leigh Morgan, al, 11 Feb. 2023

Tier 2 Pricing, includes lots farther away from the stadium: Car or SUV: $100. —Sydney Carruth, The Arizona Republic, 9 Feb. 2023

Adjective

Travelers from farther locales often fly into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), which is just 40 minutes away, and rental cars make that last stretch a breeze. —Maggie Downs, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2025

The higher the number, the stronger the storm and the farther south the northern lights can be seen. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb and Adjective

Middle English ferther, alteration of further

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Video

Further vs. Farther

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

Kids Definition

farther

1 of 2 adverb

far·​ther ˈfär-t͟hər 

1

: at or to a greater distance or more advanced point

2

: more completely

farther

2 of 2 adjective

1

: more distant : remoter

2

: further entry 3 sense 2, additional