over

1 of 5

adverb

ˈō-vər How to pronounce over (audio)
Synonyms of overnext
1
a
: across a barrier or intervening (see intervene sense 4) space
especially : across the goal line in football
threw the ball over
b
: forward beyond an edge or brink and often down
wandered too near the cliff and fell over
c
: across the brim
soup boiled over
d
: so as to bring the underside up
turned his cards over
e
: from a vertical to a prone or inclined position
knocked the lamp over
f
: from one person or side to another
hand it over
g
: across
got his point over
h
: to one's home
invite some friends over
i
: on the other side of an intervening (see intervene sense 4) space
the next town over
j
: to agreement or concord
won them over
2
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
b
: till a later time (such as the next day) : overnight
stay over
sleep over
3
a
: above
The plane was directly over.
b
: so as to cover the whole surface
windows boarded over
4
—used on a two-way radio circuit to indicate that a message is complete and a reply is expected
5
a
: through
read it over
also : in an intensive or comprehensive manner
talked the matter over with his wife
b
: once more : again
do it over
Let's start over from the beginning.

over

2 of 5

preposition

1
—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
2
a
—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
b
—used as a function word to indicate superiority, advantage, or preference
a big lead over the others
c
—used as a function word to indicate one that is overcome, circumvented, or disregarded
passed over the governor's veto
3
a
: more than
cost over $5
b
: above sense 4
4
a
—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
c
—used as a function word to indicate a particular medium or channel of communication
over the radio
5
a
—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
b
: 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
c
: 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
6
a
: throughout, during
over the past 25 years
b
: until the end of
stay over Sunday
7
a
—used as a function word to indicate an object of solicitude, interest, consideration, or reference
the Lord watches over his own
b
—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

1
a
: upper, higher
b
: outer, covering
c
: excessive
over imagination
2
a
: not used up : remaining
something over to provide for unusual requirements—J. A. Todd
b
: having or showing an excess or surplus
3
: being at an end
the day is over
4
: fried on both sides
ordered two eggs over
5
: 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 How to pronounce over (audio)
ˈōv-riŋ

transitive verb

: to leap over

over-

5 of 5

prefix

1
: so as to exceed or surpass
overachieve
2
: excessive
overstimulation
3
: to an excessive degree
overthin
Phrases
over easy
: fried on one side then turned and fried lightly on the other side
eggs over easy

Synonyms

Adverb

Preposition

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
Within a year, though, Al-Halabi had to face the fact that his dream of making a life with Rana in America and rising in the U.S. military was over. —Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024 As The Observer first reported when Clifford initially signed his contract, the Hornets had a team option for 2024-25, and the organization could’ve gone in another direction in a few weeks once the season is over without any future financial commitment. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for over 

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

Phrases Containing over

Dictionary Entries Near over

over-

over

overabound

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

over

1 of 4 adverb
ˈō-vər How to pronounce over (audio)
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

Prefix

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

More from Merriam-Webster on over

Nglish: Translation of over for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of over for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about over

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Absent Letters That Are Heard Anyway
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

A Great Big List of Bread Words

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels

12 More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

9 Superb Owl Words
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game You can make only 12 words. Pick the best ones!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A crossword with a twist
winning words from the national spelling bee logo
Spelling Bee Quiz Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...