ENGLISH
REFERENCE

further

v.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈfɝðɝ// UK //fˈɜːðɐ// fur·ther General-service

v. to help something progress or become more successful. You use this when you want to move a plan, a career, or an idea forward.

v. to promote the growth, development, or progress of something. Transitive in use; typically takes abstract nouns such as 'career', 'interests', or 'education' as direct objects.


SIMPLE

She took a new course to further her career.

CONTEXTUAL

The organization works to further the interests of local artists by hosting monthly exhibitions.

COMPLEX

The diplomat spent years building alliances to further the cause of regional peace, despite the significant political risks involved in such negotiations.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English further, forther, from Old English forþor, furþor (“further”, adverb), from Proto-West Germanic furþer, from Proto-Indo-European per- (a common preposition), equivalent to fore + -ther (a vestigial comparative ending still present in such words as other, either, whether, and, in altered form, in after); or as sometimes stated, as forth + -er. Cognate with Scots forder, furder (“further”), Saterland Frisian foarder (“further”), West Frisian fierder (“further”), Dutch verder (“further”), German fürder (“further”).

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually an abstract noun representing a goal or status.

Pitfall

to further to my educationto further my educationFurther is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'to' before its object.

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