English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
By far
Meaning
The idiom "by far" means to a very great extent, or much more than someone else. It is often used to emphasize the extent of something, especially in comparison to others.
Usage
- She has won the race by far, leaving her competitors behind.
- The new employee's work quality was so high that it surpassed the expectations of the team leader by far.
- The company has grown exponentially over the past year, and their revenue is now four times higher than before.
- After a long and difficult hike, we finally reached the summit by far.
- The new game has received positive reviews from critics and players alike, with some calling it the best of its genre by far.
Roots and History
The idiom "by far" is believed to have originated in the 16th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It was originally used to mean "in a manner that is markedly more considerable than anything previous." The phrase later evolved to its current meaning of emphasizing the extent of something in comparison to others.
Synonyms in English
- Extremely
- Incredibly
- Significantly
- Substantially
- Immensely
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish - "mucho más"
- French - "beaucoup plus"
- German - "viel mehr"
- Italian - "molto più"
- Russian - "ужасно больше".