plus

SayPLUSUK/plʌs/AUS/plɐs/

Noun pluralpluses, plusses

18 meanings of plus

Practice

1
together withprepositioncolloquial
Used to show that something comes together with something else.
Like adding a side dish to your main meal.
She ordered a sandwich plus a drink.
The room comes with a bed plus a small desk.
Similarwith, besides
Oppositeminus, without
2
conjunction
Used to add another point or reason to what you just said.
Like saying 'and another thing' before you add more.
I'm tired, plus I have work tomorrow.
The food was great, plus it didn't cost much.
UsagePut plus between two complete statements: I'm tired, plus it's late.
Similaralso, and
Note
3
preposition
Used to show that one number is added to another.
Like putting two piles of coins together to make one bigger pile.
Two plus three equals five.
Ten plus five gives you fifteen.
UsageUse a singular verb like is, makes, or equals: two plus three is five.
Oppositeminus, less
Note
4
or moreadjectivecolloquial
Used after a number to mean that number or higher.
Like an age sign that means 'this age or older.'
The ride is for kids age twelve plus.
We expect a crowd of two hundred plus at the wedding.
UsageOften written with the + sign right after the number: 12+ (said as twelve plus).
Note
5
an advantagenouncountable
A good point or helpful thing about something.
Like a bonus point that makes something more attractive.
Free parking is a big plus for this apartment.
Knowing Spanish was a real plus when she applied.
UsageSay a big plus or a real plus.
Similaradvantage, benefit, asset, bonus, boon
Oppositeminus, drawback, disadvantage, downside
6
signnouncountable
The symbol +, used to show that numbers are added.
Like a little cross shape that means 'add these together.'
Write a plus between the two numbers.
She drew a small plus on the board.
Oppositeminus
Note

Less common meanings

7
adjective
Good, or giving an advantage.
Like the bright side of a situation that works in your favor.
On the plus side, the job offers great benefits.
One plus point of the new schedule is that we can leave early on Fridays.
UsagePeople often say on the plus side.
Similarpositive, good, advantageous, favorable, beneficial
Oppositeminus, negative
Note
8
higher gradeadjective
Put after a letter grade to show a result a little better than that grade.
I got a B plus on my science test.
Her essay earned a C plus, which was better than she expected.
Oppositeminus
Note
9
do sumsverbcolloquialtransitive
To add one amount to another to get a total.
Like putting two piles of coins together to count them all.
My little brother is learning to plus small numbers at school.
"I plussed six and four and got ten," the little boy said.
Similaradd, total, tally, sum
Oppositesubtract, deduct
Note
10
above zeroadjective
Being more than zero, not negative.
Like a temperature above zero on a thermometer.
After the deposit, the account showed a plus balance.
The temperature went from minus five to plus two overnight.
Similarpositive
Oppositeminus, negative
Note
11
nouncountable
An amount that is more than zero.
Like a number that sits above zero on a number line.
A plus times a minus gives a minus.
If the pluses on your bank statement are bigger than the minuses, your balance goes up.
Oppositeminus, negative
12
electricadjective
Having a positive electric charge, not a negative one.
Like the '+' end of a battery you put in a flashlight.
Connect the red cable to the plus terminal of the battery.
The plus side of the battery is marked with a small cross.
Similarpositive
Oppositeminus, negative
Note
13
growverbintransitive
To make something bigger, like a budget or a team, usually said as plus up.
Like a balloon getting bigger as you blow more air into it.
The city wants to plus up the money for parks next year.
They plussed up the team with three new workers.
Similarincrease, grow, mount, swell
Oppositedecrease, fall, drop, diminish
Note
14
verbtransitive
To make something better by adding to it or by suggesting ways to improve it.
Like adding a fresh coat of paint to make an old room look new.
Let's plus the menu by adding two new dishes.
The team plussed the old design until it felt fresh.
Similarimprove, enhance, augment, boost, enrich
Oppositeworsen
Note
15
approve onlineverbdatedtransitive
To mark a post as approved on the Google+ website.
Like clicking 'like' on a photo your friend posts.
She used to plus her friends' photos on Google+.
Everyone was plussing them or liking them or pinning them. The videos went viral.
2014, Creativity, Inc.Here, plussing means marking posts as approved on the Google+ website.
Similarlike, upvote
Note
16
verb
To sell extra items that go with something a customer is already buying.
Good will is also secured by plussing the original purchase with another article that goes appropriately with it.
1920, The Current Business Cyclopedia: Business Digest
17
verb
In counseling, to describe what someone says or does in a kind and positive way.
18
verb
In homeopathy, to mix a remedy with water and stir it, which its users believe makes it stronger.
From the remaining water a second dilution can be prepared plussing it to the next slightly higher potency.
2007, Kate Birch, Vaccine Free Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Contagious Disease with Homeopathy

More uses

plus sizeclothes made in sizes larger than the standard range

Practice

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

Origin

This word comes from Latin plūs, meaning "more."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

English plus comes from Latin plūs, meaning “more.” en.wiktionary.org