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Definition of over preposition from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

over

preposition
 
 
/ˈəʊvə(r)/
 
/ˈəʊvər/
For the special uses of over in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example get over something is in the phrasal verb section at get.Idioms
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  1.  
     resting on the surface of somebody/something and partly or completely covering them/it
    • I put a blanket over the sleeping child.
    • He wore an overcoat over his suit.
    • She put her hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming.
  2.  
     in or to a position higher than but not touching somebody/something; above somebody/something
    • They held a large umbrella over her.
    • The balcony juts out over the street.
    • There was a lamp hanging over the table.
  3.  
     from one side of something to the other; across something
    • a bridge over the river
    • They ran over the grass.
    • They had a wonderful view over the park.
  4.  
     so as to cross something and be on the other side
    • She climbed over the wall.
  5.  
     falling from or down from a place
    • The car had toppled over the cliff.
    • He didn't dare look over the edge.
  6.  
     on the far or opposite side of something
    • He lives over the road.
  7.  
     all over in or on all or most parts of something
    • Snow is falling all over the country.
    • They've travelled all over the world.
    • There were papers lying around all over the place.
  8.  
     more than a particular time, amount, cost, etc.
    • over 3 million copies sold
    • She stayed in Lagos for over a month.
    • He's over sixty.
  9.  
     used to show that somebody has control or authority
    • She has only the director over her.
    • He ruled over a great empire.
    • She has editorial control over what is included.
  10.  
     during something
    • We'll discuss it over lunch.
    • Over the next few days they got to know the town well.
    • She has not changed much over the years.
    • He built up the business over a period of ten years.
    • We're away over (= until after) the New Year.
  11.  
     past a particular difficult stage or situation
    • We're over the worst of the recession.
    • It took her ages to get over her illness.
  12.  
     because of or relating to something; about something
    • an argument over money
    • a disagreement over the best way to proceed
  13.  
     using something; by means of something
    • We heard it over the radio.
    • She wouldn't tell me over the phone.
  14. louder than something
    • I couldn't hear what he said over the noise of the traffic.
Idioms
over and above
  1. in addition to something
    • There are other factors over and above those we have discussed.
Which Word? above / overabove / over
  • Above and over can both be used to describe a position higher than something:
    • They built a new room above/​over the garage.
    When you are talking about movement from one side of something to the other, you can only use over:
    • They jumped over the stream.
    Over can also mean ‘covering’:
    • He put a blanket over the sleeping child.
  • Above and over can also mean ‘more than’. Above is used in relation to a minimum level or a fixed point:
    • 2 000 feet above sea level
    • Temperatures will not rise above zero tonight.
    Over is used with numbers, ages, money and time:
    • over 3 million copies sold
    • He’s over 50.
    • It costs over £100.
    • We waited over 2 hours.
See over in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee over in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: over

Nearby words

sufficiently
adverb
 
 
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OPAL written words
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