farther

1 synonym and 1 antonym for farther, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — More distant in space; at a greater distance.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

further

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

More distant in space; at a greater distance.

“The farther bank of the river was hard to reach.”

further

Opposites

nearer

2. adverb

To or at a greater distance in space.

“We walked farther than we had planned.”

further

How to use farther

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

farther away farther down the road farther than expected travel farther farther afield

Farther is generally kept for literal distance, while further is used for both distance and figurative extent.

Etymology

Farther is a variant spelling that developed alongside further, both going back to Old English forms such as forþor and furþor. The word ultimately combines the idea of fore with an old comparative ending, making it a comparative of far.

Full origin of farther →

Frequently asked questions

What does farther mean?

It describes a greater physical distance, as in a place or object being farther away than another.

Is farther the same as further?

They come from the same root and are often interchangeable, but farther is generally kept for physical distance while further covers extent, degree or addition as well.

Can farther be used for time or degree, not just distance?

It is mainly used for physical distance; for time, degree or additional points, further is the usual and more natural choice.

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Nearby words

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