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over

OH-vur/ˈoʊ.vɚ/UKOH-vuh/ˈəʊ.və(ɹ)/

57 meanings of over

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  1. 1
    more thanpreposition
    More than, beyond, or exceeding a stated value or limit.

    The bill came to just over fifty dollars.

    Children over twelve pay the full fare.

    UsageFollowed by a number or measure (over 100 people, over two hours), where more than also works.

    Similarabove, beyond

    Oppositeunder, below

  2. 2
    duringpreposition
    During or throughout a period of time, or while doing something such as having a meal or drink.

    Prices rose steadily over the decade.

    Over the winter the roof began to leak.

    UsageOften over the past year, over the weekend, over the next few days.

    Similarduring, throughout, through

  3. 3
    finishedadjective
    Finished or at an end; concluded.

    By the time I arrived the meeting was over.

    Summer is over and the nights are drawing in.

    UsageAfter be: the meeting is over. Get it over with means finish something unpleasant.

    Similarfinished, done, ended, through, complete

    Oppositeongoing, unfinished

    Note

    Two kinds of ending share this adjective: an event that has run its course, like a show or a meeting, and a season that has passed, as when the strawberries are over and the last were picked yesterday. The saying about the fat lady singing turns it into a warning against declaring a result too early.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • The saying about the fat lady singing warns against declaring an outcome too early. en.wikipedia.org
  4. 4
    abovepreposition
    Above, higher than, or further up than, without contact.

    A lamp hung over the table.

    A helicopter hovered over the stadium during the match.

    UsageClose to above: a lamp over the table. When something rests on the surface without covering it, use on: a cup on the table.

    Similarabove

    Oppositeunder, below, beneath, underneath

    Note

    Height without touching is the heart of it, as with a sign held over a head or a mountain towering over a village. When the gap closes, the meaning shifts to on top of, covering.

  5. 5
    preposition
    Across something, passing above it or reaching from one side of it to the other.

    The plane came in low over the rooftops.

    From the tower you can see over the whole valley.

    UsageWith verbs of movement or sight: fly over the lake, jump over the fence, see over the wall.

    Similarabove, across

    Oppositeunder, below, beneath

  6. 6
    preposition
    Through or around every part of, as on a tour or in a check.

    The inspector went over the building room by room.

    The detectives went over every inch of the car looking for clues.

    UsageOften go over a place or show someone over a house.

    Similarthrough, around

    Note

    Coverage rather than crossing: to be shown over a house is to see every room, and to go over a cathedral is to tour all of it. With figures, plans and accounts, the same phrase means checking them through from start to finish. There it meets the adverb of thoroughness.

  7. 7
    adverb
    Expressing a change, rather than a physical movement, from one position, state, or side across to another.

    When he retired, he handed the business over to his son.

    Many voters crossed over to the other party in the last election.

    UsageMostly in phrasal verbs: hand over, switch over, come over to a view.

    Note

    Most of its work is done inside phrasal verbs: come over to a view, switch over to another channel, sign property over to someone, get an idea over. In each, something crosses from one side to another without moving through space: an opinion, a channel, ownership, a message. The verb tells you which.

  8. 8
    aboutpreposition
    Concerning, about, or on the subject of, especially in a dispute.

    The neighbors quarreled over the fence for years.

    Talks over the contract broke down.

    UsageAfter argue, fight, quarrel and talks: a row over money. About is often possible too.

    Similarabout, concerning, regarding, on

    Note

    The preposition of disputes: fights, quarrels and talks are over something, with the contested matter lying between the parties. In a monopoly over bringing lawsuits, it slides toward control, and there it meets the language of power.

  9. 9
    preposition
    On top of and covering something, in contact or nearly so, literally or figuratively.

    She pulled the blanket over the sleeping child.

    A hush fell over the room.

    UsageWith come and fall for moods: a hush fell over the room, a feeling came over me.

    Similaron, upon, onto, across

    Oppositeunder, beneath, underneath

    Note

    Contact turns height into covering: a cloth draped over a table touches it, while a lamp over a table hangs free. The same image reaches feelings and moods. In a strange feeling came over me or a hush fell over the room, the emotion settles on a person or a place the way a cloth settles on furniture.

  10. 10
    winning againstpreposition
    Above someone as the winner, or in spite of something.

    Her advantage over the field was clear by the last lap.

    The film won best picture over several bigger studio releases.

    UsageOften win over, victory over, triumph over; also be heard over the noise.

    Note

    Victory and defiance share this sense. Triumph over and a victory over put the winner on top after a contest. Passed over the veto and heard over the noise mean in spite of: something prevails against resistance. The noise case is worth knowing, because to be heard over a sound is to remain audible despite it.

    Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

    • Being heard over a sound means remaining audible despite it; speech can be understood even when its level is lower than the background noise. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  11. 11
    preposition
    Indicating power, authority, or higher status.

    The court has jurisdiction over the whole state.

    Nobody has power over the weather.

    UsageWith words of power: power over, control over, rule over. Also lord it over someone.

    Oppositeunder

    Note

    Height becomes hierarchy, with the ruler above the ruled. The victory in triumph over a rival is the same picture, won in a contest.

  12. 12
    away from hereadverb
    Away from the speaker, to or at a place some distance off on the same level.

    The keys are over by the door.

    Let's grab that empty table over in the corner.

    UsageOften over there, over at the club, or over by the door.

  13. 13
    againadverbUS
    Usually after do, again or once more, from the beginning.

    The recording was ruined, so we did it over.

    The first coat of paint was patchy, so I did the wall over.

    UsageUsually at the end, after do or start: do it over, start over.

    Similaragain, anew

    Note

    An American way of saying again, and it usually comes with do: do the whole assignment over, do it over.

  14. 14
    rather thanpreposition
    In preference to, or to a greater degree than.

    Voters favored experience over novelty.

    She was chosen over three other candidates.

    UsageAfter prefer, favor and choose: chosen over three others. Prefer also takes to: prefer tea to coffee.

    Similarabove, before

    Note

    Preference works as ranking here, with the chosen thing placed above the rejected one. Unlike the comparison of periods, it expresses a choice, not just a measured difference.

  15. 15
    too muchadverbin compounds
    To a high or excessive degree, often as the first element of a compound.

    The hotel was clean and cheap, though the staff were not over friendly.

    I wasn't over impressed with the new menu.

    UsageMostly in negatives: not over keen, not over impressed. Joined to the next word, it is a prefix: overconfident.

    Similaroverly, too, excessively, unduly

    Note

    The free-standing twin of the prefix over- works best in negative, understated judgments. Not over bothered and Agatha Christie's perhaps not over intelligent soften a verdict into a polite way of saying not very.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • The wording “perhaps not over intelligent” appears in Agatha Christie's narration in Murder on the Orient Express. en.wiktionary.org
  16. 16
    by radiopreposition
    Through or by means of a medium that carries sound or signals.

    The news came over the wire at midnight.

    She sang the whole song over the intercom.

    UsageOver the phone, over the radio, over the intercom.

    Similaron, via, through

  17. 17
    because ofpreposition
    Used to give the cause of something; because of or as a result of.

    Three players were suspended over the brawl in the parking lot.

    The company recalled thousands of cars over a brake defect.

    UsageCommon in news: suspended over a brawl, recalled over a defect.

    Similarfor

    Note

    News writing leans on it: a chief executive fired over a cyber failure, players suspended over a brawl. It names the matter a punishment, dispute or decision turns on, and it is shorter and a little looser than because of, which suits a headline.

More uses

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of over apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word comes from Middle English 'over', from Old English 'ofer', going back to Proto-Germanic '*uber' and Proto-Indo-European '*upér'. It is related to Latin 'super' and Ancient Greek 'hupér', and is a doublet of 'uber', 'super', and 'hyper'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts