far

far [ far ] (comparative far|ther [ `farðər ] or fur|ther [ `fɜrðər ] ; superlative far|thest [ `farðəst ] or fur|thest [ `fɜrðəst ] ) adjective, adverb ***

Far can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb:

Have you traveled far today?

after the verb to be :

We can walk to school it isn't far.

as an adjective:

on the far side of the river

1. ) => NOTE used for talking about distance

a ) usually in negatives or questions a long distance:

You can go outside and play, but don't go far.

far from: The main post office is not far from the library.

far away: Then from far away the train whistle sounded.

far back/above/below etc.: He always sat as far back as possible in the lecture hall.

b ) used for asking or stating how great a distance is:

how far?: How far does this road go?

How far is it to the next town?

as far as: She had got as far as the museum before he found her.

c ) only before noun used for referring to the end or side of something that is a greater distance from you:

She moved to the far side of the bed to make room.

He saw Lynn standing at the far end of the bar.

d ) only before noun used for referring to the part of an area or space that is nearest one side or end of it:

the far left/right: I'm the one on the far left.

the far north/south/east/west: Riots broke out today in the far north of the country.

e ) LITERARY distant:

a traveler from a far country

2. ) used for emphasis in comparisons

a ) used for emphasizing a difference when you are making a comparison:

far more/bigger/better etc. (=much more, bigger, etc.): Something far more important was demanding his immediate attention.

The senator is far more interested in the vote.

far above/below (=much more or less than something): There are more than 97 signatures, which is far above the number required.

The results were far below our expectations.

far too much/big/easy etc. (=much too much, much too big, etc.): The issue is far too important to be discussed behind closed doors.

You eat far too much.

b ) by far or far and away used for saying that something has much more of a particular quality than anything else:

The 1989 revolution was by far the bloodiest in the country's history.

Soccer is far and away the most popular sport in the world.

c ) far removed from something very different from something:

Our dreams are often far removed from reality.

3. ) used for talking about progress or success

a ) used for saying or asking how much progress someone or something makes:

How far have you gotten with the planning?

We want to stress just how far the committee has progressed.

We're not going to get very far if we don't trust each other.

b ) so far, so good used for saying that someone or something has been successful up to this point:

So far, so good 96 percent of calls have been answered within six seconds.

c ) someone should/will go far used for saying that you think someone will be successful in the future

4. ) to a particular degree

a ) used for asking or saying how true something is or to what degree it happens:

How far do you think the novel supports the idea that women should never rely on men?

b ) used for talking about how extreme someone's actions are or how great an effect they have:

go too far (=be too extreme): Do you think feminism has gone too far?

carry something too far (=do something too much): I realize that she wants to protect her children, but she's carrying it too far.

go as/so far as to do something: He even went as far as to accuse me of betraying him.

c ) as far as it goes used for saying that something is good or true only to a limited degree:

His theory is good as far as it goes.

d ) as far as possible as much as possible:

We should keep to the original plan as far as possible.

5. ) used for talking about time

a ) a long time in the past or the future, or a long time before or after a particular time:

far into: The bank intends to be a global leader far into the next century.

far back (=long ago): A castle has stood on this site since as far back as 1230.

far in advance (=a long time before something): The date of an election is not normally announced so far in advance.

as far as I know/can remember/can see/can tell SPOKEN

used for stating what you think is true when you think there may be facts that you do not know, remember, etc.:

No one has complained, as far as I know.

He was the only one who enjoyed the play, as far as I can remember.

far and wide

in a large area or in many different places, some of them a long way away:

from far and wide: People came from far and wide to see the show.

far be it from me to do something SPOKEN

used as a way of telling someone that you do not want to criticize them, disagree with them, or say something negative when in fact this is what you are doing:

Far be it from me to criticize, but aren't you being a little unreasonable?

far from

used for saying that the real situation is the opposite of what you mention:

The battle is far from over.

far from doing something: Far from seeming glad to see him, Rose looked almost angry.

far from it SPOKEN

used for saying that what was just said is not at all true, and that the opposite is probably true:

I'm not saying they're all crooks, far from it! Some of them are very decent.

the far right/left

people whose political views are either extremely right-wing or left-wing

not far off (the mark) or not far wrong

almost correct or accurate:

I thought it would happen in early April, and I wasn't far wrong.

I'm told that most of what's been reported in the newspapers is not too far off the mark.

not go far

1. ) if an amount of money does not go far, you cannot buy much with it:

A dollar doesn't go far these days.

2. ) if an amount or supply of something does not go far, it is too small:

One bottle of water won't go far between us all.

so far

1. ) until now:

So far we have restricted our attention to the local area.

There have been 11 deaths from TB so far.

2. ) up to a particular point or degree:

You can only get so far on good looks alone.

so far and no further: I can tolerate this rudeness only so far and no further.

a...too far

something that comes after a series of other things of the same kind, and causes trouble because it is too extreme:

The 15% surcharge on fuel will be seen as a tax too far.

=> CONCERNED, CRY 2, FARTHER, FARTHEST, REACH 2