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further

[fur-th er]
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adverb compar. of far with fur·thest as superl.
  1. at or to a greater distance; farther: I'm too tired to go further.
  2. at or to a more advanced point; to a greater extent: Let's not discuss it further.
  3. in addition; moreover: Further, he should be here any minute.
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adjective compar. of far with fur·thest as superl.
  1. more distant or remote; farther: The map shows it to be further than I thought.
  2. more extended: Does this mean a further delay?
  3. additional; more: Further meetings seem pointless.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to help forward (a work, undertaking, cause, etc.); promote; advance; forward: You can always count on him to further his own interests.
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Origin of further

before 900; Middle English furthere, Old English furthra; cognate with German vordere more advanced
Related formsfur·ther·er, noun
Can be confusedfarther father further (see usage note at farther)

Usage note

See farther.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for furthering

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • She dreaded any furthering of the personal understanding between them.

    The Gorgeous Girl

    Nalbro Bartley

  • He had been writing for the papers and meant to do so again, 'for the furthering of my ideas.

    Heart of Darkness

    Joseph Conrad

  • His life was dedicated to peace and the furthering of peace.

    The K-Factor

    Harry Harrison (AKA Henry Maxwell Dempsey)

  • Using this deadly situation as a means of furthering his own interests.

    Ten From Infinity

    Paul W. Fairman

  • Ahuramazda will hear those who are bent on furthering (all that is good).

British Dictionary definitions for furthering

further

adverb
  1. in addition; furthermore
  2. to a greater degree or extent
  3. to or at a more advanced point
  4. to or at a greater distance in time or space; farther
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adjective
  1. additional; more
  2. more distant or remote in time or space; farther
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verb
  1. (tr) to assist the progress of; promote
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See also far, furthest
Derived Formsfurtherer, noun

Word Origin

Old English furthor; related to Old Frisian further, Old Saxon furthor, Old High German furdar; see forth

xref

See farther
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for furthering

further

adv., adj.

Old English furðor (adv.), furðra (adj.), etymologically representing either "forth-er" or "fore-ther." The former would be from furðum (see forth) + comparative suffix *-eron-, *-uron- (cf. inner, outer).

Alternative etymology traces it to Proto-Germanic *furþeron-, from PIE *pr-tero, (cf. Greek proteros "former"), from root of fore + comparative suffix also found in after, other. Senses of "in addition, to a greater extent" are later metaphoric developments.

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further

v.

Old English (ge)fyrðan "further, impel;" see further (adj.). Cf. Middle Low German vorderen, Old High German furdiran, German fördern. Related: Furthered; furthering.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with furthering

further

see without further ado.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.