over

1 of 5

adverb

ˈō-vər

Synonyms of over next

: across a barrier or intervening (see intervene sense 4) space

especially : across the goal line in football

threw the ball over

: forward beyond an edge or brink and often down

wandered too near the cliff and fell over

: across the brim

soup boiled over

: so as to bring the underside up

turned his cards over

: from a vertical to a prone or inclined position

knocked the lamp over

: from one person or side to another

hand it over

: across

got his point over

: to one's home

invite some friends over

: on the other side of an intervening (see intervene sense 4) space

the next town over

: to agreement or concord

won them over

a(1)

: beyond some quantity, limit, or norm often by a specified amount or to a specified degree

show ran a minute over

(2)

: in an excessive manner : inordinately

over-conservative traditionalists—

John Arlott

: till a later time (such as the next day) : overnight

stay over

sleep over

: above

The plane was directly over.

: so as to cover the whole surface

windows boarded over

—used on a two-way radio circuit to indicate that a message is complete and a reply is expected

: through

read it over

also : in an intensive or comprehensive manner

talked the matter over with his wife

: once more : again

do it over

Let's start over from the beginning.

over

2 of 5

preposition

—used as a function word to indicate motion or situation in a position higher than or above another

towered over his mother

flew over the lake

rode over the old Roman road

—used as a function word to indicate the possession of authority, power, or jurisdiction in regard to some thing or person

respected those over him

—used as a function word to indicate superiority, advantage, or preference

a big lead over the others

—used as a function word to indicate one that is overcome, circumvented, or disregarded

passed over the governor's veto

: more than

cost over $5

: above sense 4

—used as a function word to indicate position upon or movement down upon

laid a blanket over the child

hit him over the head

b(1)

: all through or throughout

showed me over the house

went over his notes

(2)

—used as a function word connecting one mathematical set and another whose elements are coefficients or values of parameters used to form elements of the first set

polynomials over the field of real numbers

—used as a function word to indicate a particular medium or channel of communication

over the radio

—used as a function word to indicate position on or motion to the other side or beyond

lives over the way

fell over the edge

: past or beyond (something) : done with and no longer experiencing

On that day Lily was over the worst of the fever, and he had been able to tell Mrs. Dale that he did not think that she was now in danger.—

Anthony Trollope

: no longer interested in or concerned about (someone or something)

… she had already filed New York State paperwork for a legal separation and was constantly on the phone with her new, non-Catholic, nonmusical boyfriend in Manhattan, reassuring him, every day, that she was so, so over Stephen.—

Jonathan Franzen

I think I'm over "It's a Wonderful Life," at least for this year. Fortunately, there is another classic Jimmy Stewart Christmas film to enjoy.—

Jay Powell

: throughout, during

over the past 25 years

: until the end of

stay over Sunday

—used as a function word to indicate an object of solicitude, interest, consideration, or reference

the Lord watches over his own

—used as a function word to indicate the object of an expressed or implied occupation, activity, or concern

trouble over money

met with advisers over lunch

over

3 of 5

adjective

: upper, higher

: outer, covering

: excessive

over imagination

: not used up : remaining

something over to provide for unusual requirements—

J. A. Todd

: having or showing an excess or surplus

: being at an end

the day is over

: fried on both sides

ordered two eggs over

: no longer current, popular, or fashionable

Over nearly two decades, the once funky Savoy has quietly grown up in SoHo. But as the fickle glitterati have begun to spurn the area for being "so over," Savoy has only gotten more self-assured.—

Gourmet

over

4 of 5

verb

overed; overing ˈō-və-riŋ

ˈōv-riŋ

transitive verb

: to leap over

over-

5 of 5

prefix

: so as to exceed or surpass

overachieve

: excessive

overstimulation

: to an excessive degree

overthin

Phrases

over easy

: fried on one side then turned and fried lightly on the other side

eggs over easy

Examples of over in a Sentence

Adverb The wall's too high for us to climb over. We came to a stream and jumped over. She leaned over and kissed him. She knocked over the lamp. A couple of trees fell over during the storm. The baby rolled over onto his stomach. Preposition The sun's coming up over the mountain. She looked at him over the top of her glasses. Their balcony looks out over the city. He looked over the fence. A plane was flying low over the trees. The meat was cooked over an open fire. She slung the bag over her shoulder. His hat was pulled low over his eyes. Throw the rocks over the side of the boat. He fell over the cliff's edge. Adjective When is this class over? And before we knew it, the storm was over. When it's over, it's over. You don't get a second chance. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

But those days might be over for Michael, who told The Telegraph that his film The Great Escaper, which premieres in October 2023, is likely his last acting gig before retirement. —

Tabitha Britt, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023 Thinking the worst was over, people headed out to clean up the roads. —

Ziad Jaber, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2023 Analysts reacted to the BOE’s decision by declaring that the tightening cycle is now over. —

Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 21 Sep. 2023 For full standings, go here RAMS From Gary Klein: Cam Akers’ time with the Rams is over. —

Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023 The farewells felt infinitely more bittersweet, knowing that LFW was over and some guests would be heading home or onto the next fashion city. —

Ian Malone, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2023 The show re-hired its writer once the strike was over. —

Elizabeth Wagmeister, Variety, 21 Sep. 2023 Move over, Jack, there are other outdoor pumpkin decorations in town. —

Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2023 Valerie’s swelling eventually resolved, but her postpartum complications weren’t over. —

Courtney Biggs, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2023

Preposition

In April, Fox agreed to pay $787 million to Dominion Voting Systems to avoid a trial over defamation claims. —

Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023 For more information on Cheetos’ Deja tu Huella campaign, head over to the campaign’s official website, and get ready for the brand to take over Miami as part of Billboard Latin Music Week. —

James Dinh, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2023 But a courtroom showdown between Campbell and state lawyers over Arkansas State Police records involving Gov. Sanders’ travel and security didn’t happen last Thursday because Campbell got sick with covid. —

Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2023 The storm was slowly coming together on Thursday and causing rain and storms to bubble to life over parts of Florida’s northeast coast and far southeastern Georgia. —

Mary Gilbert, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023 Adjusted for inflation, residuals have increased 37% over that period. —

Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 Sep. 2023 The auction, held within days of the fatal mass shooting in Monterey Park, prompted outrage over how the county could have one agency profit by pushing guns back onto the streets while another agency paid residents to surrender their guns. —

Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023 In other campaign news… Ballot drama: As legal battles pop up over whether Trump is eligible for the 2024 ballot, state election officials are staying out of it for now, NBC News’ Nnamdi Egwuonwu and Emma Barnett report. —

Mark Murray, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2023 As a result of changes at the college, over a third of the faculty have left, according to trustee Dr. Amy Reid. —

Carlos Suarez, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023

Adjective

Plans are underway to prepare for the 329 medal events next summer, but there are accessibility and transportation concerns in the over 2000 year old city. —

CNN, 31 Aug. 2023 Men still have rusty social skills from the social isolation of COVID, an over reliance on dating apps means more men talk to women online than offline, and men are more timid to approach than ever, after the #MeToo movement. —

Debbi Compton, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2023 Bally’s pushes Medinah temporary casino opening to September Anyone who took the over bet on when the Bally’s Chicago temporary casino at Medinah Temple would open is looking like a winner. —

Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2023 The over ear cans also offer an up to 20-hour battery life. —

Ellen McAlpine, Men's Health, 11 July 2023 Given the defensive struggles, look for Kansas to stop the slide and pair it with an over bet here as this one will have no shortage of offense. —

Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2023 According to the Action Network PRO Report, public bettors are inclined to bet the over while sharper bettors are attacking the under. —

Nick Hennion, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2023 Of course, the over time the federal government saw an extension of the Civil Rights Act in environmental justice, and Clinton issued the first environmental justice executive order in 1994. —

Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Apr. 2023 In the over 200 years since the first circuit was created, circuits didn’t change much on a fundamental level. —

Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2023

Verb

He's edged out by Jack Ma, founder of the e-commerce firm Alibaba and China's second-richest person, who saw his net worth grow by $3 billion to over $41 billion in the same period. —

Grady McGregor, Fortune, 27 May 2020 Combining salt with other seasonings, like herbs and spices, can also help reduce the need to over sprinkle. —

Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, 6 Apr. 2020 Polar Bear Nylon Solar Backpack Light, simple to carry, difficult to over pack and insulated enough for a full day at the beach, this might be the perfect backpack cooler. —

Christine Ryan, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2019 Since then, the number of cases has exploded to over a quarter of a million. —

Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 3 Apr. 2020 The trade imbalance will only get worse, the ASMI report said, as Russia aims to nearly double the value of its global seafood exports by 2024 to over $8 billion. —

Anchorage Daily News, 18 Feb. 2020 The president’s legal team has 24 hours to over a three-day period to give its case. —

Kerry Picket, Washington Examiner, 24 Jan. 2020 Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture until just combined, being careful not to over mix. —

Darlene, Detroit Free Press, 19 Oct. 2019 One area overs parts of Chilton and extreme southern Shelby counties. —

Leigh Morgan, al, 31 Oct. 2019 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb, Preposition, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English ofer; akin to Old High German ubar (preposition) above, beyond, over, Latin super, Greek hyper

First Known Use

Adverb

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

Preposition

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

Adjective

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

Verb

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of over was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing over

Cite this Entry

Style

“Over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

over

1 of 4 adverb

ˈō-vər

: across a barrier or space

fly over to London

: in a direction down or forward and down

fell over

: across the brim

soup boiled over

: so as to bring the underside up

turned his cards over

: from one person or side to another

hand it over

: to one's home

ask them over

: at a distance from a certain point

two streets over

: to agreement

won them over

: across entry 1 sense 3

got their point over

: beyond a limit

the show ran a minute over

: more than needed : too many or too much

over fond of food

: till a later time (as the next day) : overnight

stay over

sleep over

: so as to cover the whole surface

windows boarded over

—used in a two-way radio transmission to indicate that a message is complete and a reply is expected

: through entry 2 sense 2a

read it over

: once more : again

do it over

over

2 of 4 preposition

ˌō-vər,

ˈō-

: higher than : above

towered over my mother

flew over the lake

: above in authority, power, or worth

respected those over us

: in front of : ahead of, beyond

a big lead over the others

: more than

cost over $5

: down upon especially so as to cover

laid a blanket over the child

: all through or throughout

all over town

went over her notes

: on or along the surface of

over the road

: across entry 2 sense 1

jump over a stream

: to or on the other side of

climb over the fence

: down from : off

fell over the edge

: during

over the past 25 years

—used to indicate an object of concern

trouble over money

: by means of

heard the news over the radio

over

3 of 4 adjective

ˈō-vər,

ˌō-

: having or being more than is needed or expected

the balance was $3 over

: brought or having come to an end

the day is over

over-

4 of 4 prefix

: so as to be greater, better, or stronger than

: so as to be too much or too great

Words from over-

overabundance, overabundant, overambitious, overanxious, overbake, overbold, overburden, overcareful, overcautious, overcomplicate, overcomplicated, overconfidence, overconfident, overconfidently, overconscientious, overcook, overcount, overcritical, overdecorate, overdependence, overdependent, overdramatic, overeager, overeagerness, overemphasis, overemphasize, overenthusiastic, overexaggerate, overexaggeration, overexcite, overexcited, overexert, overexertion, overfamiliar, overfat, overfertilization, overgenerous, overhasty, overheat, overindulge, overindulgence, overindulgent, overlarge, overload, overlong, overmodest, overnice, overpay, overpayment, overpopulate, overpopulation, overpraise, overproduce, overproduction, overprotect, overprotection, overprotective, overprotectiveness, overreact, overreaction, overrefined, overrefinement, oversensitive, oversensitiveness, oversensitivity, overspecialization, overspecialize, overstuff, oversubtle, oversuspicious, overtax, overtaxation, overtip, overtired, overtrain, overwater, overwind, overwithhold, overzealous, overzealousness

Etymology

Prefix

from over (adverb or adjective)

Legal Definition

over

adjective

: based on the termination or failure of a prior estate

a limitation over

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over

adverb

preposition

adjective

verb

prefix

Synonyms

Examples of over in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near over

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition