far
far
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "far" is /fɑːr/.
far: /fɑːr/
Word Form Variations
Adverb: far
Adjective: far, farther/further (comparative), farthest/furthest (superlative)
Noun: far (singular, less common in everyday speech, often in phrases like "the far"), fars (plural, even less common)
Verb: (no direct verb form)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Far
At, to, or by a great distance.
Synonyms: a long way, remotely, distantly, remotely
Antonyms: near, close, nearby, closely, intimately
To a great extent or degree; considerably.
Synonyms: greatly, considerably, much, extensively, profoundly
Antonyms: slightly, barely, little, minimally, hardly
Adjective
Far
Located at a great distance in space or time.
Synonyms: distant, remote, faraway, remote, outlying
Antonyms: near, close, nearby, adjacent, immediate
(Of a side or end) more distant; opposite.
Synonyms: opposite, further, distal
Antonyms: near, close, proximal
Noun
Far (less common in isolation)
A distant place or point; the distant part or side of something.
Synonyms: distance, remoteness, horizon
Antonyms: proximity, vicinity, foreground
Examples of Use
Books
Fiction: Authors often use "far" to describe distances in travel or abstract concepts. "He traveled far across the desert." A character might realize they've gone "far beyond their comfort zone."
Non-fiction: Scientific books might discuss "galaxies far, far away" or explore "the far reaches of human understanding" (National Geographic, October 2022). History books could detail expeditions to "far-off lands."
Newspapers
News Articles: Journalists report on events at a distance or the extent of something. A headline might read, "Peace deal is far from certain" (The Guardian, July 2025). A local news story might mention a new development "far from the city center."
Sports Sections: A sports reporter might comment, "The shot went far wide of the goal," or "The athlete has come so far this season."
Advertisements: Travel ads often invite readers to "far-flung destinations" or offer deals that are "far too good to miss."
Online Publications
Travel Blogs: Bloggers might describe trips to "far-off islands" or give tips for traveling "far on a budget."
Tech Reviews: A reviewer might say, "The battery life goes far beyond expectations" (CNET, April 2024).
Social Media: Users might post about how they've come so "far" in their fitness journey or about friends who live "far away." "This is far better than I expected!"
Educational Websites: Articles might explain concepts like "how far light travels in a year" (NASA, January 2024).
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Movies/TV Shows: Dialogue often includes "far" to denote distance, progress, or exaggeration. "We've come too far to give up now." A character might say, "That's far-fetched," or "May the Force be with you, always and far."
Music: Song lyrics frequently use "far" to express longing, distance, or aspiration. "I'll go the distance, I'll go the far" (from a popular song).
Video Games: Game maps might show objectives that are "far away," requiring extensive travel. A quest giver might say, "You must journey far to find the ancient artifact."
Podcasts: Hosts discussing a topic might say, "That idea is far more complex than it appears," or "We've delved far into this issue."
General Public Discourse
Conversations: In daily speech, people commonly say, "How far is it to the store?" or "That's far too expensive." "She went far in her career."
Workplace: Colleagues might discuss how a project is "far from completion" or how a new strategy will take them "far."
Education: Teachers might explain that a concept is "far more nuanced" than it seems. Students might ask, "How far do we need to read?"
Common Phrases: "Far as I know," "far from it," or "by far" (meaning by a great margin) are used regularly. "She is by far the best candidate."
10 Quotes Using Far
"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)
"We are far too young to know everything." (J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan)
"How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world." (William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice)
"So far, all the evidence is that the universe will expand forever." (Stephen Hawking)
"By far the most important thing is to lead from the front." (Jack Welch)
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong." (George Washington Carver)
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall." (Often attributed to James J. Corbett about John L. Sullivan)
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." (African Proverb)
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." (T.S. Eliot)
"It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." (Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World)
Etymology
The word "far" comes from the Old English word "feallan," which means "to drop," "to decline," or "to fail." It has roots in Germanic languages, reflecting the idea of downward movement.
The first known use of "far" in English, with the meaning of "to descend under the force of gravity" or "to drop to the ground," dates back to before the 9th century. It appeared in texts referring to objects or people moving downwards. Over time, its meaning expanded to include concepts like decrease, the season of autumn, and the overthrow of power.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Far
As far as: To the extent that. "As far as I know, he's still working there."
Far cry: A long way from; very different from. "This new apartment is a far cry from my old one."
Far-fetched: Unlikely and difficult to believe. "That excuse sounds pretty far-fetched."
Far and away: By a great amount; easily. "She is far and away the best candidate."
Go far: To achieve great success. "I believe he will go far in his career."
By far: By a great margin. "This is by far the best solution."
Far be it from me: Used to express that one would not presume to do something. "Far be it from me to tell you what to do."
From far and wide: From many different places. "People came from far and wide to attend the festival."
Far-off: Distant in space or time. "He dreams of traveling to far-off lands."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of far from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
