over

verb

overed; overing ˈō-və-riŋ 

ˈōv-riŋ

transitive verb

: to leap over

Examples of over in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That does not mean leaders need to over-explain every response. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

There’s no need to over-analyze the importance. —Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 2 Apr. 2026

The ward overs much of downtown Chicago, including parts of the Loop, River North, Streeterville, Magnificent Mile, and West Loop. —Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

Just watch the tendency to over-explain; simple truths land best. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing over

• ain't over till it's over
• all over
• all over again
• all over the joint
• all over the lot
• all over the map
• all over the place
• all over the shop
• a question mark over
• a rap on/over/across the knuckles
• a roof over one's head
• bend over backward
• bind over
• blow over
• boil over
• bowl over
• carry over
• carry over into/to
• cast a pall on/over
• cast/run one's eye over
• change over to
• change (something) over to
• check over
• chew over
• comb-over
• come over
• come over to
• crossing-over
• cross over
• cry over spilled milk
• deliver over into
• deliver over to
• do-over
• fall all over oneself
• fall over backward
• fall over oneself
• fuss over
• get one's leg over
• get over
• get (something) over with
• given over to
• give over
• give over to
• give (someone or something) a/the once-over
• gloss over
• going-over
• go over
• go over big
• go over like a lead balloon
• go over someone's head
• go over/through (something) with a fine-tooth comb
• go to the stake for/over
• hand over
• hand over fist
• hash over
• haul (someone) over the coals
• have it over
• have over
• have (something) written all over it
• have/take precedence over
• head over heels
• hold over
• hung over
• ice over/up
• it ain't over until/till the fat lady sings
• jump all over
• keel over
• keep a close watch over
• kick over
• kick over the traces
• knock over
• lay over
• lean over backward
• lie over
• like death warmed over
• look over
• look over one's shoulder
• lord it over
• lose sleep over
• make over
• mess over
• mind over matter
• moon over
• mouse over
• not look a day over
• once-over
• over a barrel
• over against
• over and above
• over and done with
• over and over
• over and over again
• over budget
• over easy
• over one's dead body
• over one's head
• over-peopled
• over-prepared
• over the counter
• over the edge
• over-the-hill
• over the hump
• over the limit
• over the long haul
• over the long run
• over the long term
• over the moon
• over the odds
• over the phone
• over the short run
• over the short term
• over the top
• over the transom
• over the way
• over the years
• over/through the ether
• over with
• paint over
• paper over
• paper over the cracks
• pass over
• pave over
• pay over the odds
• pick over
• plaster over
• pore over
• preside over
• pull over
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• pull the wool over someone's eyes
• put (oneself) over as (something)
• put over
• put (something) over on (someone)
• puzzle over
• rake over
• rake (someone) over the coals
• rap (someone) on/over/across the knuckles
• read over
• roll over
• roll-over arm
• roof over my head
• run over
• see over
• shove over
• sign over
• skate over/around
• slave over a hot stove
• slobber over
• smooth over
• splash across/over
• start over
• stay over
• sweat over
• swing over
• take over
• talk over
• the (whole) world over
• think over
• think things over
• throw over
• tick over
• tide over
• tip over
• tower above/over
• turn over
• turn over a new leaf
• turn over to
• turn (something) over in one's mind
• twice over
• unfussed-over
• voice-over
• Voice over Internet Protocol
• walk over
• warmed-over
• wash over
• watch over
• well over
• when hell freezes over
• win over
• work over
• written all over someone's face
• you could have knocked me over with a feather

Rhymes for over

• clover
• drover
• prover
• rover
• stover
• trover
• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover

Kids Definition

over

1 of 4 adverb

ˈō-vər 

1

a

: across a barrier or space

fly over to London

b

: in a direction down or forward and down

fell over

c

: across the brim

soup boiled over

d

: so as to bring the underside up

turned his cards over

e

: from one person or side to another

hand it over

f

: to one's home

ask them over

g

: at a distance from a certain point

two streets over

h

: to agreement

won them over

2

: across entry 1 sense 3

got their point over

3

a

: beyond a limit

the show ran a minute over

b

: more than needed : too many or too much

over fond of food

c

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

stay over

sleep over

4

: so as to cover the whole surface

windows boarded over

5

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

6

a

: through entry 2 sense 2a

read it over

b

: once more : again

do it over

over

2 of 4 preposition

ˌō-vər, 

ˈō-

1

: higher than : above

towered over my mother

flew over the lake

2

a

: above in authority, power, or worth

respected those over us

b

: in front of : ahead of, beyond

a big lead over the others

3

: more than

cost over $5

4

a

: down upon especially so as to cover

laid a blanket over the child

b

: all through or throughout

all over town

went over her notes

c

: on or along the surface of

over the road

5

a

: across entry 2 sense 1

jump over a stream

b

: to or on the other side of

climb over the fence

c

: down from : off

fell over the edge

6

: during

over the past 25 years

7

—used to indicate an object of concern

trouble over money

8

: by means of

heard the news over the radio

over

3 of 4 adjective

ˈō-vər, 

ˌō-

1

: having or being more than is needed or expected

the balance was $3 over

2

: brought or having come to an end

the day is over

over-

4 of 4 prefix

1

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

2

: 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

from over (adverb or adjective)

Legal Definition

over

adjective

: based on the termination or failure of a prior estate

a limitation over

see also gift over at gift