further
Americanadverb
adjective
-
more distant or remote; farther.
The map shows it to be further than I thought.
-
more extended.
Does this mean a further delay?
-
Further meetings seem pointless.
verb (used with object)
-
furthers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
furthered,
past participle, past
-
furthering
present participle
adverb
-
in addition; furthermore
-
to a greater degree or extent
-
to or at a more advanced point
-
to or at a greater distance in time or space; farther
adjective
-
additional; more
-
more distant or remote in time or space; farther
verb
Usage
What’s the difference between further and farther? Further commonly means to a greater figurative distance, as in Nothing could be further from the truth, or to a greater extent, as in Let’s discuss this further. It can also mean at or to a greater literal distance. This is what farther most commonly means, as in a few steps farther or two miles farther or We’re moving even farther away. The traditional distinction is that farther is used for literal distances and that further should be used for figurative distances or metaphorical extents, though in everyday communication, they are often used interchangeably, with further being often used for literal distances and farther being used to mean at a more advanced point or to a great extent. However, further is used in a few ways that farther is not. Further can be used as a verb meaning to advance something, such as an agenda or cause, as in This will help to further our cause. As an adjective, further can mean more extended, as in further delays, or additional, as in We will hold further meetings. It can also be used in the beginning of a sentence or clause to mean the same thing as furthermore, in addition, or moreover, as in I don’t like ice cream. Further, I don’t like pistachios. So why would you buy me pistachio ice cream? You can remember that farther is typically used for literal distance by remembering that it’s the comparative form of the adjective far, with the superlative form being farthest. Here’s an example of further and farther used correctly in the same sentence. Example: I have to drive farther than usual for work today—I’ll explain further when I get home. Want to learn more? Go the distance by reading the full breakdown of the difference between further and farther.
Commonly Confused
See farther.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
furthersimple
-
furtherssimple
-
have furtheredperfect
-
has furtheredperfect
-
am furtheringprogressive
-
are furtheringprogressive
-
is furtheringprogressive
-
have been furtheringperfect progressive
-
has been furtheringperfect progressive
Past
-
furtheredsimple
-
had furtheredperfect
-
was furtheringprogressive
-
were furtheringprogressive
-
had been furtheringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of further
First recorded before 900; Middle English furthere, Old English furthra; cognate with German vordere “more advanced”
Explanation
If you ask your parents for money, they might say they need to think about it further and then ask you lots of questions. Further refers to figurative distance, like a thought you need more time on. Further often gets confused with farther, but it's better to use further to mean an abstract distance, when two things are moving apart in terms of ideals, agreement, or thoughts, and farther when you're talking about physical distance. There's also a verb form of further that means "to promote the growth or progress of," which you might use in a sentence like, "These new gigs should help her further her career as a rock musician."
Vocabulary lists containing further
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Confused Words, List 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Commonly Confused Words, List 6
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Recent developments have further entrenched Washington’s partnership with Rodriguez, Maduro’s longtime deputy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
The rise of AI and social video platforms is squeezing them further.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
TfW said it was exploring a pilot to allow eligible railcards to be linked to pay-as-you-go accounts, and hoped to introduce child fares in future, but said further development was needed.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
But the oil market’s influence goes much further.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Coal twisted, trying to get loose, but only managed to get his pants further mangled.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
But Dan Wasiolek, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, told MarketWatch that the deal furthers his belief that prediction-market competition is overstated.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026
As MMA solidifies, “it produces heat, and then in producing that heat, it furthers the chain reaction, so it keeps going and going and going,” Bernal said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
It is the latest acquisition by the Wall Street firm to broaden its offerings to clients outside of traditional investing and furthers Chief Executive David Solomon’s goal of building up the bank’s asset-management division.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025
Assuming the young Swede maintains his current trajectory, following his recent win at Torrey Pines, he will surely have many more fans as he furthers his quest for a first major title.
From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2025
The shade furnished by the clover also furthers friability.
From Clovers and How to Grow Them by Thomas Shaw
Super Micro has been working its way back into Wall Street’s good graces, and its latest earnings report furthered the cause.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
That all the music would be written by Americans—Aaron Copland and John Williams in addition to Mr. Glass—only furthered the patriotic angle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
The Civic Memory Working Group that has recently furthered this effort left the city with a list of other historical obligations as yet unmet, challenging issues in the region’s past that remain unresolved.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2025
One of those Ins for 2024 was finding a creative hobby that furthered my artistic pursuits outside my preferred and beloved relationship with writing.
From Salon ● Jan. 4, 2025
I surprise even myself, that I would dare to dispute with a priest during the Mass. Five months of convent life have, in their way, furthered my education, if not my humility.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Journalists on the old plane out of Ankara were also told to keep their window blinds down -- a step normally reserved for war zones -- furthering suspicions of security concerns.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
Yet, Inouye-Perez and Fernandez not only chose to stick around the game, but to reinvest their time in furthering the league and sport altogether.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
While SpaceX is due to join the Nasdaq-100 on Tuesday, it won’t become part of the S&P 500 for at least another year — likely furthering the volatility spread between those two indexes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
The former Jane Doe’s name has now leaked via court documents, furthering an already pronounced imbalance of power.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
I didn’t think it was lame so much as more of Alaska’s intentional vagueness, another example of her furthering her own mysteriousness.
From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
