If you say that something only goes so far or can only go so far, you mean that its extent, effect, or influence is limited.
Their loyalty only went so far.
The church can only go so far in secular matters.
Synonyms: up to a point, to a certain extent, to a limited extent More Synonyms of so far
See full dictionary entry for far
so far
phrase
If you tell or ask someone what has happened so far, you are telling or asking them what has happened up until the present point in asituation or story, and often implying that something different might happen later.
It's been quiet so far.
So far, they have met with no success.
Which one have you enjoyed most so far?
Synonyms: up to now, to date, until now, thus far More Synonyms of so far
See full dictionary entry for far
so far in British English
a.
up to the present moment
b.
up to a certain point, extent, degree, etc
See full dictionary entry for far
so far in American English
up to this place, time, or degree
: also thus far
See full dictionary entry for far
Examples of 'so far' in a sentence
so far
Three different primaries so far and we have had three different winners.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Their away form has cost them a hatful of points so far this season.
The Sun (2016)
Nobody told me it was so far away.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The effects so far look relatively benign.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This race looks weaker than the ones he has been asked to contest so far.
The Sun (2010)
What has been the best moment so far?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That was three weeks ago and all had gone smoothly so far.
LM Montgomery Anne of Green Gables (1872)
What has happened so far may make it look as though the pipeline has cleared.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The pieces on display are often so far from our present tastes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So far injury has meant that is not possible.
The Sun (2008)
It is a model that seems so far to be successful.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One part of the reason may be a real but so far unproven clinical effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It was the toughest moment so far.
The Sun (2013)
No other country has gone so far to absorb the lessons of the recent past.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
On the face of it, those efforts are so far failing very badly.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And anyway, can you really plan something like that so far in advance?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He's not exactly doing badly so far.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are also obvious questions that don't appear to have been asked so far.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A post mortem has so far failed to establish the cause of death.
The Sun (2012)
In their appeal for the driver police have so far posted more than 3,000 letters through doors asking for the woman to contact them.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I've left something out there so far.
The Sun (2015)
He admitted: 'It was our poorest performance of the season so far.
The Sun (2012)
So far 15 different nationalities have netted in the first 19 games.
The Sun (2011)
He added: 'I would go so far as to say their views were irresponsible.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
All related terms of 'so far'
so far as
to the extent or point that
in so far as
to the degree or extent that
so far, so good
You can say so far so good to express satisfaction with the way that a situation or activity is progressing, developing , or happening .
so near and yet so far
said to express regret or sadness when you have got very close to achieving what you wanted , but in the end you just failed
as far as one can tell/so far as one can tell
You use as far as I can tell or so far as I could tell to indicate that what you are saying is based on the information you have, but that there may be things you do not know .