Definition

Adverb 1. Up to the present moment or time: Indicates that a situation or action has continued or been true until now, often with the implication that it may change. 2. To a certain extent or degree: Used to limit or qualify a statement, indicating the scope of what is being discussed or claimed.

Usage

• Used with present perfect or present perfect continuous tenses to describe actions or states that began in the past and continue to the present.
• Often used in negative or interrogative contexts to express that something expected has not happened or to ask if it has happened up to now.
• Can introduce a qualifying clause to specify the limits of a statement.

Examples

1. Indicating time up to the present: We have collected three hundred signatures so far. I haven't received any instructions so far. "Has he arrived?" "Not so far."

2. Limiting or qualifying a statement (often as 'so far as' or 'in so far as'): The project is successful, so far as we can tell from the initial data. He agreed, so far as to say he would consider the proposal.

Advanced Usage

• "So far, so good": An idiom used to say that things have progressed satisfactorily up to this point.
• "Thus far": A more formal synonym for 'so far' when referring to time.

Variants and Related Words

• Thus far (adv.): Up to this point; until now. (Synonym in the temporal sense).
• As far as / Insofar as (conj.): To the degree or extent that. Used to introduce a qualifying clause.

Synonyms

• Up to now
• Until now
• Hitherto (more formal)
• To date
• As yet (often in negative contexts)

Related Phrases

• So far as [something] is concerned: Regarding a particular thing or matter.
• So far as to do something: To such an extent as to do something.

Notes

• When used to mean "up to now," so far typically implies the current situation is incomplete and subject to change.
• The phrase so far as is used to introduce a condition or limitation and is interchangeable with as far as or insofar as in formal writing.

Adverb

1. used after a superlative
   • this is the best so far
   • the largest drug bust yet
2. to the degree or extent that
   • insofar as it can be ascertained, the horse lung is comparable to that of man
   • so far as it is reasonably practical he should practice restraint
3. used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
   • So far he hasn't called
   • the sun isn't up yet