further 1 of 3

adverb

ˈfər-t͟hər How to pronounce further (audio)
Definition of furthernext
1
as in farther
at or to a greater distance or more advanced point go further along this road and you'll see the sign for the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in then
in addition to what has been said I'll say nothing further at this time

Synonyms & Similar Words

further

2 of 3

adjective

as in more
resulting in an increase in amount or number I think further research is needed before we can say whether that treatment is safe or not

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

further

3 of 3

verb

as in to encourage
to help the growth or development of she worked hard to further her operatic career

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb further contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of further are advance, forward, and promote. While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

used the marriage to further his career

In what contexts can advance take the place of further?

The words advance and further are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end.

advance the cause of peace

When is forward a more appropriate choice than further?

The synonyms forward and further are sometimes interchangeable, but forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

a wage increase would forward productivity

When might promote be a better fit than further?

While the synonyms promote and further are close in meaning, promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

a campaign to promote better health

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of further
Adverb
For statistical confirmation, look no further than a global survey that my company did of 2,000 CEOs. — Sanjay Brahmawar, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2023 For those who want a remote getaway with breathtaking beauty, look no further than this archipelago province of the Philippines. — Karla Pope, Good Housekeeping, 1 Feb. 2023
Adjective
His inauguration, held at a university auditorium before Congress, marks a further shift to the right in the region. — Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 The post did not share further details about the circumstances surrounding her death. — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
The plan would further the strategy of reducing the central bank’s communications to financial markets, causing some to worry about the chances of heightened volatility. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 To further its mission, the Nestlé Health Science Foundation has created a $50,000 grant through its employee engagement program to support Sesame Workshop. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for further
Recent Examples of Synonyms for further
  1. farther
  2. then
  3. more
  4. encourage
  5. also
  6. additional
  7. promote
  8. either
Adverb
  • However, if temperatures fall farther than expected the amounts could increase, forecasters added.
    — Leigh Morgan, al, 11 Feb. 2023
  • The air and pressure distortions can be a bane to airplane pilots, who sometimes feel their planes gliding along farther than intended during landing.
    — Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2023
Definition of farther
Adverb
  • Wiese said that the system is set up to not allow direct information access to ICE, and that if an individual officer decides to break the law and use data illegally, then their police department would have to put a stop to it.
    — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Rengifo then hit a 1-0 fastball from Kyle Harrison (9-3) into the seats in left field for a 5-0 lead.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of then
Adjective
  • Consequently, the plant could potentially become net-negative—removing more CO₂ from the atmosphere than the entire system emits during its life cycle.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2026
  • And last year, with the Magical Dining funds headed their way, there was more crying.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of more
Verb
  • Separating students from those pressures for several hours could encourage face-to-face conversation and give overwhelmed teenagers a genuine break.
    — Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Protecting elections and encouraging thoughtful voting is imperative to retake control of our government.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of encourage
Adverb
  • Ormund, cc’d on the mass raven about Aegon’s return from the dead, also decides to stay the course.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The floods also devastated livestock, with large numbers of cattle lost, dealing a blow to rural communities and raising concerns about disease outbreaks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of also
Adjective
  • Aircraft owners use charter revenues to offset some of their operating costs, though the extra flights bring additional expenses for maintenance, pilots, and wear-and-tear.
    — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Operators can scale fueling capacity as additional vehicles enter service without making significant upfront infrastructure investments.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of additional
Verb
  • Bringing ‘Marge’ home In 2020, Wisconsin’s National Guard and Papua New Guinea entered into a military agreement though the State Partnership Program, which promotes cooperation through military exchanges.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Trump most frequently mentions grass while promoting his Washington beautification efforts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of promote
Adverb
  • The traditional farmhouse touches indoors and massive swimming pool don’t hurt its charm, either.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The assumption that nonprofits are too set in their ways to respond to a rapidly changing world doesn’t hold up either.
    — Max Simkoff, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of either

Browse Nearby Words

furs
further
furtherance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Further.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/further. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of further for Spanish Speakers

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