further
further Lexical Profile
further Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Additional; more extended; going beyond what currently exists or has already been dealt with.
"Please contact our office if you require any further information about the program."
More distant in space or time; farther.
"The old cabin stood on the further side of the valley."
• adverb
To a greater degree or extent; at or to a more advanced point.
"The committee decided to investigate the matter further before reaching a conclusion."
At or to a greater physical distance or more distant point in space or time.
"We walked two miles further along the coastal path before stopping for lunch."
In addition to what has already been said; furthermore; moreover.
"Further, the new policy will significantly reduce administrative costs across all departments."
• verb
To help the progress or development of something; to promote or advance.
"She accepted the fellowship in hopes that it would further her academic career."
Word Nuance & Usage
In formal usage, 'farther' is often preferred for measurable physical distance, whereas 'further' is preferred for figurative distance, degree, or addition (e.g., 'further research'), though 'further' is widely accepted for both in modern English.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English furthor (adverb) and furthra (adjective), representing a comparative formation related to forth, from Proto-Germanic *furthiz. It gradually came to serve as a comparative of 'far' alongside 'farther'.