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.
文法句型
the far side / end / corner
far + noun (the far north)
用法筆記
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'.
常見錯誤
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.
文法句型
far-right / far-left
far + political noun
用法筆記
Always used before 'right' or 'left' as a modifier (far-right, far-left). It is not used alone to mean 'extreme'.
常見錯誤
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.
- 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
用法筆記
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.'
常見錯誤
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.
How far did the hiking group get before they turned back?
- 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
文法句型
how far
as far as [place]
far from [place]
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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 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.
- to the best of my knowledge
more formal, often used in writing
- from what I can gather
less certain; you are piecing together information
文法句型
as far as + subject + know/remember/tell + clause
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
- 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
文法句型
as far as + subject + be concerned + clause
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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 early as
less dramatic; simply states the earliest point without surprise
- dating back to
used for describing origins; more formal
文法句型
as far back as + [time/date]
用法筆記
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".
常見錯誤
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 Yasmin to interrupt, but the children need to be picked up from school soon.
- 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
文法句型
far be it from me to + infinitive
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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 a guarantee of success, the contract only locked in the price for materials.
- 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
文法句型
far from + noun phrase
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
- 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
文法句型
far from + adjective/gerund
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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 hurting sales, the price increase actually made the product seem more valuable.
- 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!')
文法句型
Far from it, [clause]
Far from + verb-ing, [clause]
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
The charity appeal was broadcast far and wide, reaching donors in over thirty countries.
- everywhere
simpler and more direct, same meaning but less vivid
- all over
informal, interchangeable in most contexts ('all over the city')
文法句型
far and wide
用法筆記
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).
常見錯誤
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.
The lawyer went so far as to ask the judge to dismiss the case entirely.
- 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...')
文法句型
go so far as to + infinitive
go as far as to + infinitive
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
Arjun has applied to five universities so far and is waiting for their replies.
- from now on
refers to the future rather than the past up to now
文法句型
so far + present perfect / present tense
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
The new website launched last week. So far so good — no complaints from users.
- all good so far
informal, slightly more casual
- going well
simpler and more direct, less idiomatic
文法句型
so far so good
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
Élise speaks French far more fluently now than when she first moved to Lyon.
- 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
文法句型
far + comparative adjective/adverb
用法筆記
Commonly used before comparative forms of adjectives such as 'better', 'worse', 'easier', 'more difficult', and adverbs such as 'more' and 'less'.
常見錯誤
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.
Repairing the old house cost far more than the new owners had saved for it.
- 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
文法句型
far + too/more/less + noun/adjective
用法筆記
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.
文法句型
how far
so far as
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
Ziad had not got far into the novel because the tiny print hurt his eyes.
- how much
more general; 'how much progress' is more explicit but less idiomatic than 'how far'
文法句型
how far + have/has + subject + got/gone
go far
get far
用法筆記
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.