Prep / Adv / Adj / Noun / Verb A2–C1 — All Levels /ˈəʊ.vər/

Over — Definition, Examples & Usage

Above, across, finished, remaining — one small word with a remarkable range of meanings.

Quick Definition

Over (preposition) — above; across; more than; during: a lamp over the table; over fifty students; over the weekend.

Over (adverb) — to or on the other side; again; indicating movement or completion: come over here; start over; the lesson is over.

Over (adjective) — finished; ended: the exam is over; it’s all over.

Over (noun, cricket) — a set of six balls bowled from one end of the pitch: the last over of the match.

Over (verb, informal) — to leap or pass over something: she overed the fence in one stride.

What Does Over Mean?

Over is one of the most frequently used words in English and one of the most versatile. Depending on its grammatical role in a sentence, it can locate something in space (the clouds over the city), indicate a quantity exceeding a limit (over two hundred pages), describe the end of an event (the match is over), or signal movement to another place or side (she flew over to Dublin for the weekend).

Because over also forms the first element of hundreds of compound words — overcome, overlook, overdue, overtime — and combines with dozens of verbs to create phrasal verbs (get over, go over, take over), mastering its core meanings pays dividends across the whole vocabulary.

The key to using over naturally is to notice which meaning is active in the sentence. Ask yourself: does it show position (above/across)? quantity (more than)? time (during)? completion (finished)? or movement towards someone? Once you identify the category, the correct use usually follows naturally.

Etymology: Old English ofer, from Proto-Germanic *uberi, related to Old High German ubar and Gothic ufar. The Proto-Indo-European root *uper (above, beyond) also gave Latin super and Greek hyper — both still productive in English today (supernatural, hyperactive).

Example Sentences by Level

SentenceLevel & usage note
The cat jumped over the wall and disappeared. A2 — preposition: across / to the other side
She has over three hundred words in her active vocabulary notebook. B1 — preposition: more than (the given example)
We can discuss the details over lunch if that suits you. B1 — preposition: during a period of time
The committee argued over the new policy for nearly an hour before reaching a compromise. B2 — preposition: about a topic of dispute
Having got over the initial shock of redundancy, she channelled her energy into launching her own consultancy. C1 — phrasal verb: to recover from; adverb particle in complex clause

Collocations

CollocationExample
over timeSkills improve over time with consistent practice.
over the weekendI read the whole report over the weekend.
over the moonShe was over the moon when she got the scholarship.
game overHe missed the final penalty — it was game over.
take overThe deputy will take over while the director is away.
get overIt took him months to get over the disappointment.
look overCould you look over my draft before I submit it?
over and overShe repeated the phrase over and over until it felt natural.
think overI need a day to think it over before deciding.
over budgetThe renovation project came in over budget by 15 per cent.

Usage Notes

Key Points to Remember

  • Over vs. above (position): Use above for a higher level or rank without movement: the temperature is above zero. Use over when covering, crossing, or directly on top of: she spread a cloth over the table.
  • Over vs. more than (quantity): Both are acceptable in most contexts: over forty applicants = more than forty applicants. Formal and academic writing often prefers more than.
  • Over as adverb (finished): In British English, the event is over is more natural than the event is done. Do not confuse with over as a preposition in the same sentence position.
  • Compounds: Over is the first element of many common words — overcome, overlook, overdue, overjoyed, overtime, overwork. In these compounds it usually carries a sense of excess or superiority.
  • Cricket noun: In the noun sense, over is used only in cricket and is always countable: England need 42 runs off the last five overs.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

The picture is hanged above the sofa. (when covering or spanning is meant)

The picture is hanging over the sofa. (directly above and dominating the space)

She was very upset but now she is over of it.

She was very upset but now she is over it. (no preposition after over in phrasal verb get/be over something)

The meeting was finished over one hour.

The meeting was finished in under an hour. / The meeting lasted over an hour. (confusing over as duration vs. completion)

I thought it over and over again in my mind.

I went over it again and again in my mind. (redundant: over and over already means repeatedly)

Related Words

above across beyond overcome overlook overdue overtime overjoyed takeover leftovers moreover

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “over”

What does over mean in English?
Over has several meanings depending on its grammatical role. As a preposition it means above ('the lamp over the table'), more than ('over fifty people'), or across ('she jumped over the fence'). As an adverb it signals that something has ended ('the meeting is over') or describes movement to another side ('come over here'). As an adjective it means finished or completed.
What is the difference between over and above?
Both over and above can mean at a higher position, but there is a subtle difference. Above simply indicates a higher level or position without movement: 'the sky above'. Over often suggests directly on top of, movement across, or covering: 'a bridge over the river', 'she put a blanket over him'. Above is also preferred with numbers used as benchmarks: 'above average', whereas over is more common with quantities: 'over a hundred'.
How do you use over as a preposition?
Use over as a preposition to mean: (1) directly above — 'the picture hung over the fireplace'; (2) across — 'they walked over the bridge'; (3) more than — 'it cost over £200'; (4) during a period — 'over the weekend'; (5) about a topic — 'they argued over the decision'. In each case, over is followed by a noun or noun phrase.
What does it mean when something is over?
When something is over, it has finished or ended. 'The film is over' means the film has ended. 'It's all over' means a situation has completely finished, often with a sense of finality. This use of over as a predicative adjective is very common in spoken English and informal writing.
What is the phrasal verb meaning of over?
Over combines with many verbs to form phrasal verbs. 'Get over' means to recover from something ('she got over her cold'). 'Go over' means to review ('let's go over the plan'). 'Look over' means to examine ('please look over my report'). 'Take over' means to assume control ('the new manager took over last week'). 'Think over' means to consider carefully ('I need to think it over').
What does over mean in cricket?
In cricket, an over is a set of six balls delivered by one bowler from one end of the pitch. At the end of an over, a different bowler delivers from the opposite end. The word comes from the umpire's call of 'over!' to signal the completion of those six balls. This is the noun use of over and is specific to cricket.
What is the difference between over and more than?
Over and more than are largely interchangeable when expressing quantity: 'over fifty students' and 'more than fifty students' mean the same thing. However, in formal writing — particularly in statistics and academic prose — more than is often preferred. Over is more common in spoken and informal English. Some style guides advise against using over for quantities, though modern usage widely accepts it.
What does 'over and out' mean?
'Over and out' is used in radio communication to signal that you have finished speaking and do not expect a reply. 'Over' alone means 'I have finished speaking and am waiting for your reply.' 'Out' means 'I am ending the communication.' Using 'over and out' together is technically a contradiction, but it has entered everyday speech as an informal way of saying goodbye or ending a conversation.
What is the origin of the word over?
Over comes from Old English 'ofer', which is related to Old High German 'ubar' and Gothic 'ufar'. All of these descend from the Proto-Germanic root '*uberi', which in turn comes from Proto-Indo-European '*uper', meaning above or beyond. This same root gave Latin 'super' and Greek 'hyper', which also appear in many English words today.
How can I practise using over in English?
Because over has so many uses, practising it in context is essential. Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to choose the correct preposition in context, or use Flash Cards to study phrasal verbs built with over. Listening to authentic English podcasts and noting every use of over is an excellent way to absorb its full range of meanings naturally.