beyond

1 of 3

adverb

be·​yond bē-ˈänd 

1

: on or to the farther side : farther

We could see the valley and the hills beyond.

2

: in addition : besides

provides the essentials but nothing beyond

beyond

2 of 3

preposition

1

: on or to the farther side of : at a greater distance than

beyond the horizon

2

a

: out of the reach or sphere (see sphere entry 1 sense 4b) of

a task beyond his strength

b

: in a degree or amount surpassing

beautiful beyond measure

c

: out of the comprehension of

his reasoning is beyond me

3

: in addition to : besides

doing work beyond his regular duties

beyond

3 of 3

noun

1

: something that lies on or to the farther side : something that lies beyond (see beyond entry 1 sense 1)

twenty miles back into the beyond

—R. W. Hatch

2

: something that lies outside the scope of ordinary experience

… there's a beyond that the mind can't see, and that's where the answers are.

—Robert Nathan

specifically : hereafter

Synonyms

Adverb

• farther
• further
• yon
• yonder

Preposition

• over
• past

Noun

• afterlife
• eternity
• hereafter
• immortality

Examples of beyond in a Sentence

Adverb

From the house we can see the valley and the hills beyond.

We passed the hotel and drove a bit beyond to see the ocean.

The children who are part of the study will be monitored through their school years and beyond.

Preposition

From the house we can see the valley and the mountains beyond it.

The parking area is just beyond those trees.

Our land extends beyond the fence to those trees.

planets beyond our solar system

His influence does not extend beyond this department.

Noun

who knows how we'll fare in the beyond?

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Every door holds the promise of adventure and endless possibilities, as the rooms and mysteries beyond are never the same from one day to the next. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024

That is a hint to one of the most important lessons of the Wintel saga and beyond: Protecting the incumbent business, even in a time of transition, is almost impossible to resist. —Bygeoff Colvin, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb, Preposition, and Noun

Middle English, preposition & adverb, from Old English begeondan, from be- + geondan beyond, from geond yond — more at yond

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beyond

• above and beyond
• above/beyond reproach
• above/beyond suspicion
• back of beyond
• beyond (all) expectations
• beyond (all) recognition
• beyond a reasonable doubt
• beyond a shadow of a doubt
• beyond bearing
• beyond belief
• beyond cavil
• beyond compare
• beyond comprehension
• beyond comprehension/understanding
• beyond description
• beyond dispute
• beyond doubt
• beyond endurance
• beyond help
• beyond hope
• beyond measure
• beyond number
• beyond one's comprehension
• beyond one's control
• beyond one's depth
• beyond one's wildest dreams/fantasies
• beyond/outside the bounds of possibility
• beyond/past redemption
• beyond price
• beyond question
• beyond recall
• beyond repair
• beyond retrieval
• beyond someone's grasp
• beyond someone's ken
• beyond someone's reach
• beyond the call of duty
• beyond the grave
• beyond the means of
• beyond the pale
• beyond the reach of
• circumstances beyond someone's control
• go beyond
• live beyond one's means
• live within/beyond one's means
• the back of beyond
• went beyond the call of duty

Kids Definition

beyond

1 of 2 adverb

be·​yond bē-ˈänd 

: on or to the farther side

beyond

2 of 2 preposition

1

: on or to the farther side of

beyond that tree

beyond the sea

2

: out of the reach or sphere of

beyond help

beautiful beyond belief