far
far — adjective
1. located a long way from a person or place; also describes the side or section of
located a long way from a person or place; also describes the side or section of an object that is furthest away from its middle or its front edge
A small boat appeared on the far side of the river.
attributive: the far side / end / corner
Takeshi walked to the far end of the platform to find an empty carriage.
Niran pointed to a house on the far corner of the street.
The lost cat was hiding behind a shed at the far corner of the garden.
- far side
- far end
- far corner
- far wall
- far north
- far reaches
Grammar Patterns
the far side / end / corner
far + noun (the far north)
Usage Note
Frequently used before nouns in fixed expressions like 'the far side', 'the far end', 'the far corner'. In predicative position (after 'be'), 'far away' or 'distant' is preferred: 'the station is far away' not ✗ 'the station is far'.
Common Mistakes
2. used for political parties or people who hold strongly extreme beliefs, commonly
used for political parties or people who hold strongly extreme beliefs, commonly appearing before 'right' or 'left' in compound terms such as far-right or far-left
Hassan's uncle left his party to join a far-right political group.
compound: far-right / far-left + political noun
Political analysts worry that far-left ideas are gaining ground among young voters.
Élise wrote an article about the rise of extremist far-right parties in Europe.
Tanvi was worried when her uncle started sharing far-left articles online.
- far right
- far left
- far-right party
- far-left group
- far-right politics
Grammar Patterns
far-right / far-left
far + political noun
Usage Note
Always used before 'right' or 'left' as a modifier (far-right, far-left). It is not used alone to mean 'extreme'.
Common Mistakes
far — abbreviation
1. an abbreviation for Federal Air Regulation — one of the official rules made by t
an abbreviation for Federal Air Regulation — one of the official rules made by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that control how aircraft are flown, maintained, and operated
Before his flight to Chicago, Captain Esteban checked the FARs to confirm the aircraft was in compliance.
abbreviation FAR used as countable plural noun
The mechanic, Amihan, consulted the latest FAR on engine inspection intervals before signing the repair log.
Tariq studied for his FAA written test by memorising the most commonly cited FARs.
The airline's legal team warned that ignoring a single FAR could lead to heavy fines.
passive: FAR as the object of 'ignore' in a warning context
- comply with FARs
- FAR on [topic]
- the applicable FAR
- FAR requirements
- regulation
a general term; FAR is the specific abbreviation for US aviation regulations
- rule
broader in meaning; FAR refers specifically to FAA-issued aviation rules
Usage Note
Commonly used in the plural form (FARs) when referring to the collection of regulations as a whole. Often preceded by 'the' when referencing a specific rule: 'the FAR on pilot duty time.'
Common Mistakes
far — adverb
1. pointing to a large gap between two points, whether you measure that gap in metr
pointing to a large gap between two points, whether you measure that gap in metres or in years; it is common in 'how far' questions that ask about the size of that gap
How far is the nearest hospital from the community centre?
how far [distance question]
The children ran as far as the old oak tree before stopping to rest.
as far as [physical limit]
We did not walk far because the rain became too heavy to continue.
The nearest shop is not far from Eli's house — only a five-minute walk.
not far from [short distance]
How far did the hiking group get before they turned back?
- as far as
- how far
- far from
- not far
- a long way
less formal, used in British English more than American
- a great distance
more formal, less common in everyday speech
- near
opposite meaning — a short distance away
Grammar Patterns
how far
as far as [place]
far from [place]
Usage Note
Commonly appears in questions ("How far…?") or with the structure "as far as + [noun phrase]" to mark a physical boundary or limit. Also used in negatives ("not far") to mean a short distance.
Common Mistakes
2. used to limit a statement to what you personally know or believe, especially whe
used to limit a statement to what you personally know or believe, especially when you are not completely certain that you have all the facts
As far as Rin knows, the meeting is still scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
as far as + [person] + know
No one has complained about the new parking rules, as far as Walid is aware.
As far as Haruto could tell, the engine sounded normal after the repair.
as far as + [person] + can tell
As far as Padma remembers, the library closes at nine on weekdays.
There were no injuries, as far as the hospital staff have told us.
As far as I know, the meeting has been moved to next Tuesday.
- as far as I know
- as far as I can tell
- as far as I'm aware
- to the best of my knowledge
more formal, often used in writing
- from what I can gather
less certain; you are piecing together information
Grammar Patterns
as far as + subject + know/remember/tell + clause
Usage Note
Only used in the fixed phrase "as far as + [subject] + [verb of knowing/perceiving]" (know, can tell, can remember, is aware). Do not use with other verbs or without this structure.
Common Mistakes
3. used to introduce your own point of view on a matter, making it clear that other
used to introduce your own point of view on a matter, making it clear that others may see things differently
As far as Tanvi is concerned, the current plan works perfectly well.
as far as + [person] + be concerned
As far as Christopher is concerned, that film was the best one this year.
As far as the residents are concerned, the park is a welcome addition.
As far as the coach is concerned, every player must attend practice.
As far as we are concerned, the decision has already been made.
- as far as I'm concerned
- as far as he/she is concerned
- in my opinion
more direct and personal; less distancing than 'as far as I'm concerned'
- from my perspective
slightly more formal; implies a considered viewpoint
Grammar Patterns
as far as + subject + be concerned + clause
Usage Note
Always appears in the fixed structure "as far as + [subject] + [be] + concerned". Unlike sense 2 (LIMITED KNOWLEDGE), this sense makes no claim about facts — it only signals that the statement is the speaker's personal view.
Common Mistakes
4. used with a specific time or date to emphasize that something began or already e
used with a specific time or date to emphasize that something began or already existed much earlier than one might expect, often expressing surprise
Records show that this market has been operating as far back as the 1680s.
as far back as [year]
As far back as 2010, scientists warned about the dangers of plastic waste in the ocean.
The Watanabe family has owned this land as far back as anyone can remember.
As far back as the 1970s, doctors recognised the link between diet and heart disease.
This holiday tradition dates as far back as the early 1800s.
- as far back as
- as far back as the 1990s/1800s/etc.
- as early as
less dramatic; simply states the earliest point without surprise
- dating back to
used for describing origins; more formal
Grammar Patterns
as far back as + [time/date]
Usage Note
Always requires the full structure "as far back as + [specific time reference]". The time reference is usually a year, a decade, or a historical period — not a vague expression like "ages ago".
Common Mistakes
5. far be it from me to do something — a polite phrase said before you criticise, q
far be it from me to do something — a polite phrase said before you criticise, question, or interfere, making it clear you are reluctant to do so but will proceed anyway
Far be it from me to criticise the chef, but I think the soup needs more salt.
far be it from me to + infinitive (polite criticism)
Far be it from me to question the manager's decision, but have we considered the budget?
Far be it from Apinya to tell her parents how to run their family business.
Far be it from me to disagree with Dr. Okafor, but I have read different studies on this treatment.
far be it from me to + infinitive + 'but' contrast clause
Far be it from Yasmin to interrupt, but the children need to be picked up from school soon.
- far be it from me to
- far be it from me to say
- far be it from me to question
- I wouldn't dream of
less formal; expresses stronger unwillingness rather than polite reluctance
- I hesitate to
similar polite softening, but less dramatic and old-fashioned
Grammar Patterns
far be it from me to + infinitive
Usage Note
A fixed subjunctive expression with inverted word order ('be' before 'it'). Always followed by a 'to'-infinitive. The next clause often opens with 'but' and states the opinion the speaker actually wants to express. Common in formal British English; somewhat old-fashioned in American English.
Common Mistakes
6. used before a noun phrase to say that something is definitely not that thing — i
used before a noun phrase to say that something is definitely not that thing — it completely lacks the quality or character that the noun describes
The committee's decision was far from a solution to the ongoing parking dispute.
far from + noun (a solution)
Mei is far from a beginner — she has been painting watercolours for over ten years.
The result of the election was far from a surprise to most political observers in Taipei.
Wei's first performance was far from a disaster; in fact the audience clapped warmly.
far from + noun (a disaster) — denial of negative label
Far from a guarantee of success, the contract only locked in the price for materials.
- far from a solution
- far from a beginner
- far from a surprise
- far from a disaster
- far from a guarantee
- not at all
more direct and straightforward; less dramatic than 'far from'
- by no means
slightly more formal, often used before nouns ('by no means a solution')
- exactly
confirms membership in a category rather than denying it
Grammar Patterns
far from + noun phrase
Usage Note
The noun after 'far from' names a category the subject clearly does not belong to. Word order is 'far from + [a/an + noun]'. This sense differs from sense 7 (FAR FROM), which uses an adjective or gerund and carries a stronger 'opposite' implication.
Common Mistakes
7. used before an adjective or gerund to stress that the actual situation contrasts
used before an adjective or gerund to stress that the actual situation contrasts sharply with the expected quality — the reverse, not merely a weaker version
Chidi's explanation was far from clear, so I asked him to repeat it.
far from + adjective (clear) — almost the opposite
The meal was far from wonderful — the rice was cold and the sauce was too salty.
For a beginner, Joon's first attempt was far from perfect, but he kept practising.
Despite his nerves, the speech was far from dull and kept everyone interested.
- far from clear
- far from perfect
- far from easy
- far from happy
- far from over
- anything but
stronger and more informal, same structure ('anything but clear')
- not at all
more neutral and widely used; 'far from' carries a stronger sense of being the opposite
- exactly
used before an adjective to confirm it ('exactly right') rather than deny it
Grammar Patterns
far from + adjective/gerund
Usage Note
Frequently used with adjectives that describe positive qualities (perfect, clear, easy, wonderful) to express that the opposite is true. Use a gerund (-ing form) when a verb follows, e.g. 'far from being over'. This sense differs from sense 6 (NOT AT ALL), which uses a noun phrase to deny membership in a category; sense 7 uses an adjective or gerund to assert something close to the opposite quality.
Common Mistakes
8. used as a sentence-initial modifier or standalone reply to emphatically deny a s
used as a sentence-initial modifier or standalone reply to emphatically deny a suggestion or assumption, usually introducing a contrasting true statement
"Are you disappointed with the result?" "Far from it — I am absolutely thrilled."
fixed phrase 'far from it' as standalone reply
Does this mean the project is finished? Far from it — we still have months of work ahead.
Far from causing problems, the new software saved the team hours of work each week.
far from + verb-ing for sentence-initial contrastive denial
Far from hurting sales, the price increase actually made the product seem more valuable.
- far from it
- far from being
- far from + verb-ing
- by no means
more formal, used in writing ('By no means is it finished')
- not in the least
slightly more informal, emphasises complete absence
- certainly
used to affirm rather than deny ('It certainly is!')
Grammar Patterns
Far from it, [clause]
Far from + verb-ing, [clause]
Usage Note
This sense uses 'Far from it' as a standalone reply (often after a yes/no question or negative statement) or 'Far from + verb-ing' as a sentence-initial modifier. The true situation is explained in the following clause. Sense 5 (FAR BE IT FROM ME) expresses reluctance to act; sense 6 (NOT AT ALL) denies a noun category; sense 7 (FAR FROM) modifies an adjective — whereas this sense denies a whole proposition.
Common Mistakes
9. over a very large area, reaching many different places at the same time
over a very large area, reaching many different places at the same time
The news of the festival spread far and wide throughout the region.
fixed phrase 'far and wide'
Sari travelled far and wide before finally settling in a small coastal town.
People came from far and wide to hear the Nobel laureate speak at the university.
fixed phrase 'from far and wide'
The charity appeal was broadcast far and wide, reaching donors in over thirty countries.
- far and wide
- from far and wide
- spread far and wide
- travel far and wide
- everywhere
simpler and more direct, same meaning but less vivid
- all over
informal, interchangeable in most contexts ('all over the city')
Grammar Patterns
far and wide
Usage Note
Almost always occurs in the fixed expression 'far and wide' or 'from far and wide'. Common with verbs of movement (travel, spread, come) and communication (announce, broadcast, tell).
Common Mistakes
10. used when someone takes an action or makes a statement that goes noticeably beyo
used when someone takes an action or makes a statement that goes noticeably beyond what is usual or expected, especially with the verb 'go'
Joon went so far as to quit his job and move abroad to start a business.
go so far as to + infinitive (quit)
Some critics went as far as calling the movie the best of the decade.
I would not go so far as to say she lied, but she did not tell the full truth.
negative form: would not go so far as to + infinitive
The lawyer went so far as to ask the judge to dismiss the case entirely.
- go so far as to
- go as far as to
- would not go so far as to
- take the extreme step of
more formal, used in written English ('took the extreme step of resigning')
- venture to
more tentative, suggests hesitation ('I would venture to say...')
Grammar Patterns
go so far as to + infinitive
go as far as to + infinitive
Usage Note
Always paired with the verb 'go' and followed by 'as far as to + infinitive' or 'so far as to + infinitive'. The negative form ('would not go so far as to...') is very common for setting a limit on what one is willing to say.
Common Mistakes
11. up to this moment in time, from a past point until the present; often used with
up to this moment in time, from a past point until the present; often used with the present perfect tense to describe what has or has not happened yet
So far, Eleni has finished three of the six chapters in the book.
so far + present perfect
Noa has not replied to my invitation so far — I hope she is coming.
The weather has been excellent so far, so the outdoor concert should go ahead.
present perfect 'has been' with 'so far'
Arjun has applied to five universities so far and is waiting for their replies.
- so far
- so far this week/month/year
- so far so good
- from now on
refers to the future rather than the past up to now
Grammar Patterns
so far + present perfect / present tense
Usage Note
Typically used with the present perfect tense in English ('have/has + past participle'). The phrase usually appears at the start or end of the clause. It carries an implication that the situation may change in the future.
Common Mistakes
12. said when things have been going well up to the present moment, though the task
said when things have been going well up to the present moment, though the task or situation is not yet complete and may still change
"How is the kitchen renovation going?" "So far so good — the cabinets are installed."
fixed phrase used as a reply
Vinícius has been training for weeks. So far so good, but the real test is next week.
The new medicine seems useful. So far so good, and the doctors feel hopeful.
fixed phrase 'so far so good'
The new website launched last week. So far so good — no complaints from users.
- so far so good
- all good so far
informal, slightly more casual
- going well
simpler and more direct, less idiomatic
Grammar Patterns
so far so good
Usage Note
This is a fixed idiomatic expression — the words cannot be reordered or modified. It is always used informally, often in spoken conversation or casual writing. The second half of the sentence often introduces a note of caution that the situation may change.
Common Mistakes
13. used before a comparative adjective or adverb to say that something has much mor
used before a comparative adjective or adverb to say that something has much more of a quality than something else
The rooms at the Grand Hotel are far nicer than those at the budget inn.
far + comparative adjective (nicer)
Feng thinks this mountain route is far safer than the coastal road.
The new treatment works far better than the old one for most patients.
far + comparative adverb (better) showing improvement
Élise speaks French far more fluently now than when she first moved to Lyon.
- far better
- far worse
- far more
- far less
- far easier
- far greater
- much
less emphatic than 'far'; 'much better' is neutral, while 'far better' stresses the gap more strongly
- considerably
more formal; used in written or academic contexts
- slightly
opposite in degree — 'slightly better' means a small improvement, while 'far better' means a big one
Grammar Patterns
far + comparative adjective/adverb
Usage Note
Commonly used before comparative forms of adjectives such as 'better', 'worse', 'easier', 'more difficult', and adverbs such as 'more' and 'less'.
Common Mistakes
14. used to say that the difference between two amounts, sizes, or degrees is surpri
used to say that the difference between two amounts, sizes, or degrees is surprisingly or noticeably large
There are far too many cars on the roads during the morning rush hour.
far + too + many (excessive quantity)
Diya makes far less money in her part-time job than in her old career.
The university received far more applications this year than last year.
far + more + noun (application numbers)
Repairing the old house cost far more than the new owners had saved for it.
- far too many
- far too much
- far more
- far less
- far fewer
- a lot
less formal; 'a lot more' is common in everyday speech but slightly weaker than 'far more'
- significantly
formal register; typical in academic or business writing
Grammar Patterns
far + too/more/less + noun/adjective
Usage Note
Often used before 'too' + adjective/adverb ('far too expensive') to show that something exceeds a reasonable limit. Also common before 'more' and 'less' with plural nouns.
15. used when you want to ask or talk about how true, correct, or possible a particu
used when you want to ask or talk about how true, correct, or possible a particular idea or situation is
How far is it true that watching too much television harms children's development?
how far + true (asking about degree of truth)
How far do you think the government should go in regulating social media content?
how far (asking about acceptable degree of action)
I will support your idea only as far as my time and energy allow.
No one can tell how far the new rules will change the way banks operate.
how far (asking about degree of impact)
- how far
- so far as
Grammar Patterns
how far
so far as
Usage Note
Common in questions beginning with 'how far' to ask about the degree or extent to which something is true or applicable. Unlike sense 2 (LIMITED KNOWLEDGE), which uses the fixed phrase 'as far as I know', this sense uses 'how far' in open questions about limits.
Common Mistakes
16. used to ask or say how much progress someone has made toward completing or achie
used to ask or say how much progress someone has made toward completing or achieving something
How far have you got with the report that the manager asked for last week?
how far + have got with (asking about progress on a task)
The team had not got far with the experiment before the funding ran out.
Meera has gone far in her career since joining the design studio three years ago.
gone far (achieved significant progress)
Ziad had not got far into the novel because the tiny print hurt his eyes.
- how far have you got
- go far
- get far
- not very far
- how much
more general; 'how much progress' is more explicit but less idiomatic than 'how far'
Grammar Patterns
how far + have/has + subject + got/gone
go far
get far
Usage Note
Often paired with the verbs 'get' (in 'how far have you got') and 'go' (in 'go far' meaning 'achieve a lot'). The question form 'how far have you got with...' is very common in workplace and academic settings.
Common Mistakes
Reaching to the horizon, where the sky meets the land or sea.
The desert stretched as far as the eye could see.
From the hill, fields of wheat extended as far as the eye could see.
Used to express your personal opinion about something.
As far as I am concerned, this plan is perfect.
So far as I am concerned, you can take the day off.
Used to say that you think you know or remember something but are not completely sure.
As far as I know, the meeting is still on.
She left early, as far as I can remember.
Used to give facts or an opinion about a particular aspect of something.
As far as money is concerned, we have enough.
So far as the children are concerned, the trip was a success.
as/so far as it goes
idiomTo a limited degree, usually less than what is enough.
Your idea is good as far as it goes, but it needs more detail.
The plan works as far as it goes, but we need a backup.
by far
idiomBy a very large amount or degree.
She is by far the best singer in the group.
This is by far the most difficult exam I have taken.
To continue doing something beyond reasonable limits.
His jokes were funny at first, but he carried them too far.
Don't take the teasing too far; it might hurt her feelings.
Far away from home; to or in places that are not near.
We decided to explore further afield and visit the mountains.
He traveled far afield to find rare plants.
far and away
idiomBy a very great amount; definitely.
She is far and away the most talented student in class.
This restaurant is far and away the best in town.
far and wide
idiomOver a large area; everywhere.
People came from far and wide to see the festival.
The news spread far and wide within hours.
Used before disagreeing or criticizing, to show you do not really want to.
Far be it from me to criticize, but your report has errors.
Far be it from me to interfere, but I think you should apologize.
Almost the opposite of something or of what is expected.
The project is far from complete; we have months of work left.
Far from being angry, she was actually amused.
far from it
idiomUsed to say that the opposite of what someone says is true.
Are you tired? Far from it, I feel energetic.
He said it was easy, but far from it, it was very hard.
few and far between
idiomNot happening often; rare.
Good job opportunities are few and far between in this town.
His visits to his parents are few and far between.
go far
idiomTo be very successful in the future.
With her talent and hard work, she will go far.
He is smart and ambitious; he should go far in his career.
go far enough
idiomTo achieve all that is wanted or needed.
The new law is good but does not go far enough to protect animals.
His apology did not go far enough to satisfy her.
go so/as far as to…
idiomTo be willing to do something extreme or surprising.
He went so far as to call her a liar.
I wouldn't go as far as to say he's dishonest, but he exaggerates.
To behave in an extreme way that is not acceptable.
His rude comments went too far, and she left the room.
I never thought he would go this far in his anger.
in so/as far as
idiomTo the degree that; to the extent that.
In so far as I understand, the plan is acceptable.
As far as the law is concerned, you are innocent.
Almost correct; close to being accurate.
Your guess was not far off; the answer is 95.
Her estimate of the cost was not far wrong.
not go far
idiomTo not be enough to buy many things or satisfy many people.
Ten dollars does not go far at the grocery store.
One pizza will not go far among ten hungry kids.
so far
idiomUntil now; up to this point in time.
So far, we have completed half of the project.
How is your new job going so far?
so far, so good
idiomUsed to say that things have been successful until now and you hope they continue.
We have finished the first part of the trip; so far, so good.
The surgery went well; so far, so good.
Used to comment on something that was almost successful but ultimately failed.
They lost the game by one point; so near and yet so far.
He almost got the job; so near and yet so far.
Word family
- farawayadjectiveB2
- far-offadjectiveB2
- far-reachingadjectiveB2
- far-flungadjectiveC1
- fartheradverbB2
- farthestadverbB2
- furtheradverbB1
- furthestadverbB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adverb/1
表示距離時，far 最口語且常見（How far is it?），distant 較正式，常用於描述客觀上的空間距離（distant galaxies）或時間上的久遠（distant past）。remote 強調偏遠難到達，帶有隔絕的含義（a remote mountain village）。faraway 充滿文學色彩，常帶浪漫或懷舊情感（a faraway land）。 用作程度強調時（adverb/13–14），far 與 much 都可以修飾比較級（far better / much better），但 far 的語氣更強烈，突顯差距之大；a lot 則較口語化，程度介於兩者之間（a lot easier）。considerably 和 significantly 則屬於正式書面用語。
Common collocations
Nouns
- far side
- far end
- far corner
- far reaches
- far north
- far right
- far left
Adverbs
- far away
- so far
- as far as
- far and away
- far too
- far more
- far less
- far fewer
Phrases
- as far as I know
- as far as I'm concerned
- so far so good
- far from it
- by far
- far and wide
- how far
- far be it from me to
Prepositions
- far from
- far away from
Etymology
源自古英語 feorr，意為「距離很遠」。與德語 fern（遙遠的）、哥德語 fairra（遠處）同源。