farthest

1. 1
   adjective

   Alternative form of furthest.

   Astronomers struggle to photograph the farthest galaxies clearly.

   The lighthouse stands at the farthest point of the rocky peninsula.

   Note

   The superlative of far in its most physical guise: the most distant galaxy, the remotest tip of a peninsula. Its meanings match furthest, covering distance in time, space or degree. Many careful writers keep farthest for literal, measurable distance and switch to furthest when the extent is figurative, as in the furthest thing from the truth. Both spellings are correct; the split is a matter of preference, not a rule.

2. 2
   adverb

   Alternative form of furthest.

   Of all the hikers, she ventured farthest into the wilderness.

   The arrow that flew farthest won the contest.

   Note

   As an adverb it answers how far something went, usually right after a verb of motion or reach: ventured farthest, flew farthest, traveled farthest. Because nothing needs to follow it, it often closes the clause, as in whoever walked farthest. It can also mean the greatest degree rather than the greatest distance, though there the same literal-versus-figurative preference that governs the adjective nudges many writers toward furthest.

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