further
FUR-thuh
Further (verb) means to help advance or promote something. Example: “She took the internship to further her career in journalism.”
verb
1
To help advance or promote something.
"She took the internship to further her career in journalism."
"He joined the club to further his interest in photography."
"Charities often work together to further the cause of clean water."
adj
1
More distant, in space, time, or extent.
"The further shore of the lake was hidden in mist."
"Take the further path if you want a quieter walk."
"The station is a bit further down the road."
adv
1
To a greater extent or degree.
"Let's discuss this further after lunch."
"He refused to comment further on the allegations."
"We need to look further into why the machine keeps stopping."
How to use further
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "more distant" or "to a greater degree," and as a verb, "to help something progress."
Common mistake
"Further" is generally used for figurative or abstract distance ("further discussion"), while "farther" is preferred for literal physical distance in American English — though the distinction is often blurred, especially in British English.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
further notice
further education
look no further
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- furthers
- Past tense
- furthered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She took the internship to _____ her career in journalism.
Etymology
From Old English furþor ("further"), ultimately related to "fore" and the comparative ending seen in words like "other" and "either."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “further” mean?
The word “further” means to help advance or promote something. In plain terms, either "more distant" or "to a greater degree," and as a verb, "to help something progress.".
How do you pronounce “further”?
“Further” is pronounced FUR-thuh (/ˈfɝ.ðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “further” in a sentence?
Here is “further” used in a sentence: “She took the internship to further her career in journalism.”
What part of speech is “further”?
Depending on how it is used, “further” can be a verb, an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “further” come from?
The word “further” comes from Old English. From Old English furþor ("further"), ultimately related to "fore" and the comparative ending seen in words like "other" and "either.".
Is “further” a common word?
“Further” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “further” have?
“Further” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to help advance or promote something.
What is the difference between further and farther?
Farther refers to physical distance — 'the shop is farther down the road.' Further refers to figurative distance, extra degree or amount, and additional action — 'let's discuss this further.' Only further works as a verb meaning to advance or promote, as in 'to further a cause.' Farther cannot be used that way.
Can 'farther' be used as a verb?
No. Only further works as a verb, meaning to help something advance or succeed — 'the grant furthered her research.' Farther is limited to describing physical distance and works only as an adjective or adverb. If you mean to promote or advance something, further is always the correct choice.
What is an example of 'further' as a verb?
As a verb, further means to help something progress: 'she took the job to further her career,' 'the talks were held to further peace,' or 'volunteering furthered the charity's aims.' In each case, an action pushes a goal, cause or interest closer to success.
Is 'further' a verb or an adverb?
It can be both, plus an adjective. As an adverb it means to a greater extent — 'read further.' As an adjective it means additional — 'further details.' As a verb, the sense here, it means to advance or promote something — 'to further your interests.' Context makes the role clear.
Featured in
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