Meanings
- alternativeAlternative form of further. (See also the usage notes at further.)
The necessity must be obeyed, and farther apology would be absurd.
1813, Pride & Prejudice1 more example
Mary translated this into the lady being born in Pisa, of English parents; and might have made farther inquiries of the man who had been with them in the capacity of courier ever since they arrived, and who was intelligent and faithful...
1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter L, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 13
- alternativeAlternative form of further. (See also the usage notes at further.)
But as the matter is often carried farther, even to the absolute rejecting of all profound reasonings, or what is commonly called metaphysics, we shall now proceed to consider what can reasonably be pleaded in their behalf.
1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral., London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 5
present singular third person farthers · participle present farthering · participle past farthered · past farthered
- alternativedateduncommonAlternative form of further.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectivemore distant in especially space or time
adverbto or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (‘further’ is used more often than ‘farther’ in this abstract sense)
adverbto or at a greater distance in time or space (‘farther’ is used more frequently than ‘further’ in this physical sense)
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Variant of further.
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Sounds the same
Cite this entry
farther. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/farther
“farther.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/farther. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “farther,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/farther.
Source: farther on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.