further Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb promote the growth of
    foster.
    • Foster our children's well-being and education
  2. verb contribute to the progress or growth of
    advance; encourage; promote; boost.
    • I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom
  3. adjective satellite more distant in especially degree
    farther.
    • nothing could be further from the truth
    • further from our expectations
    • farther from the truth
    • farther from our expectations
  4. adverb to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (`further' is used more often than `farther' in this abstract sense)
    farther.
    • further complicated by uncertainty about the future
    • let's not discuss it further
    • nothing could be further from the truth
    • they are further along in their research than we expected
    • the application of the law was extended farther
    • he is going no farther in his studies
  5. adverb in addition or furthermore; further, they should be here already"
    • if we further suppose
    • stated further that he would not cooperate with them
    • they are definitely coming
  6. adverb to or at a greater distance in time or space (`farther' is used more frequently than `further' in this physical sense)
    farther.
    • farther north
    • moved farther away
    • farther down the corridor
    • the practice may go back still farther to the Druids
    • went only three miles further
    • further in the future
  7. adverb to a considerable degree; very much
    far.
    • a far far better thing that I do
    • felt far worse than yesterday
    • eyes far too close together
  8. adverb at or to or from a great distance in space
    far.
    • he traveled far
    • strayed far from home
    • sat far away from each other
  9. adverb at or to a certain point or degree
    far.
    • I can only go so far before I have to give up
    • how far can we get with this kind of argument?
  10. adverb remote in time
    far.
    • if we could see far into the future
    • all that happened far in the past
  11. adverb to an advanced stage or point
    far.
    • a young man who will go very far

WordNet

Fur"ther adverb
Etymology
A comparative of forth; OE. further, forther, AS. furor, farur; akin to G. fürder. See Forth, adv.
Definitions
  1. To a greater distance; in addition; moreover. See Farther.
    Carries us, I know not how much further, into familiar company. M. Arnold.
    They sdvanced us far as Eleusis and Thria; but no further. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Fur"ther adjective comparative
Wordforms
Positive wanting; superlative Furthest
Definitions
  1. More remote; at a greater distance; more in advance; farther; as, the further end of the field. See Farther.
  2. Beyond; additional; as, a further reason for this opinion; nothing further to suggest. ✍ The forms further and farther are in general not differentiated by writers, but further is preferred by many when application to quantity or degree is implied.
Fur"ther" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. furthren, forthren, AS. fyr&edh;ran, fyr&edh;rian. See Further, adv.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Furthered ; present participle & verbal noun Furthering
Definitions
  1. To help forward; to promote; to advance; to forward; to help or assist.
    This binds thee, then, to further my design. Dryden.
    I should nothing further the weal public. Robynsom (More's Utopia).

Webster 1913