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above or higher than something else, sometimes so that one thing covers the other; above:
The sign over the door said "Exit".
She held the umbrella over both of us.
Helicopters dropped leaflets over the city.
I put my hands over my eyes/ears because I couldn't bear to watch/listen.
I couldn't hear what she was saying over the noise of the planes taking off (= the planes were louder than her voice).
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in a position that is covering something:
Put a clean cloth over the cakes while they cool.
I put a shawl over my shoulders.
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across from one side to the other, especially by going up and then down:
She jumped over the gate.
The road goes over the mountains, not through a tunnel.
She is always chatting with her neighbour over the garden fence.
From the top of the tower you could see for miles over the city.
Tanks travel over the most difficult ground.
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falling down from somewhere:
The coin rolled over the edge of the table.
Harold jumped out of the car just before it went over the cliff.
She tripped over a toy lying on the path.
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more than:
Most of the carpets cost/are over $5,000.
Children over the age of twelve (= older than twelve) pay the full price.
I value quality of life over money.
They are already $25 million over budget.
They receive extra money over and above the usual welfare payments.
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on the other side of:
There's a bar over the road we could go to.
The story continues over the page.
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(referring to a cause of interest, worry, discussion, etc.) connected with or about:
There's no point in arguing over something so unimportant.
I need time to talk/think over your proposal (= to discuss/consider it carefully).
The legal battle was over who should have custody of the child.
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during something, or while doing something:
I was in Seattle over the summer.
Shall we discuss it over lunch/over a drink?
They took/spent an hour over lunch (= their meal lasted an hour).
It's fascinating to watch how a baby changes and develops over time (= as time passes).
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to feel physically or mentally better after an illness or an upsetting experience:
It takes you a while to get over an illness like that.
His girlfriend broke up with him last year and he's not over her yet.
He's not fully recovered, but he's over the worst (= has experienced the worst stage of the illness and is now improving).
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in control of or teaching someone or something:
A good teacher has an easy authority over a class.
She's a sales manager but she has a regional sales director over (= with a higher rank than) her.
The victory over the French at Waterloo was Wellington's greatest triumph.
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using:
They spoke over the phone.
We heard the news over the radio.
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sometimes used when talking about a calculation in which one number is divided by another number:
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from a higher to a lower position; down:
The lamp fell over and broke.
He was run/knocked over by a taxi.
UK The little boy fell over and started to cry.
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across; from one side or place to another:
She leaned over and kissed me.
A fighter plane flew over.
Why don't you come over (= come to my house) for dinner on Thursday?
A friend of mine from France is over visiting us this week (= a friend came from France and is staying with us).
Now we're going over to (= there will be a broadcast from) Wembley for commentary on the Cup Final.
Come over here - it's warmer.
Who's that man over there?
She turned another page over.
The dog rolled over onto its back.
The children rolled over and over (= turned over many times) down the gentle slope.
Would you mind changing/swapping those plates over?
She changed over to editing from marketing.
Why should we hand over the money to them?
I've done everything I can - now it's over to you (= it's your turn to take action).
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above or higher than something else, sometimes so that one thing covers the other:
A fighter plane flew over.
A man came to paint over (= cover with paint) the cracks in the wall.
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more than a particular amount or level:
People who are 65 years old and over can get half-price tickets.
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(especially of an event) finished:
I'll be glad when the competition is over.
I used to have a thriving business and a happy marriage, but that's all over now.
She gets unpleasant tasks over and done with as quickly as possible.
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extra; not used:
I have some euros left over from the last time I was in France.
UK When all the guests had gone, we realized there was lots of food over.
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again or repeatedly:
You ruined it - now I'll have to do it over!
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said when you are talking to someone by radio, to mean that you have finished speaking and will wait for their answer:
"This is flight 595X. Do you read me? Over."
"Thank you, control tower. Over and out."
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(in cricket) a set of six bowls (= throws) from the same end of the field
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too much or more than usual:
The children got over-excited (= too excited).
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more than:
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across:
Of course, the overland route is much slower than going by air.
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above:
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in, to, on, or at a position above or higher than something else, sometimes so that one thing covers the other; above:
The sign over the door said, "Private."
He put a sweater on over his shirt.
The horse jumped over the fence.
I couldn’t hear what she said over the sound of the music (= The music was louder than her voice).
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across from one side to the other, esp. by going up and then down:
Once we get over the bridge we’ll stop for lunch.
She tripped over the rug.
The car went over the cliff (= across the edge of it).
Their house is just over the river.
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more than:
Most of these rugs cost over $1000.
Children over 12 (= older than 12) pay full price.
Construction costs are already $25 million over budget.
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divided by
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29
using a device such as a telephone:
They spoke over the phone.
We transfer files over the Internet.
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during a period of time, or while doing something:
She made a lot of changes over the past six months.
Can we discuss this over lunch?
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31
greater in authority, power, or position than:
Parents want to have control over their children.
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about or connected with:
There’s no point in arguing over this.
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(esp. of illness) no longer suffering from:
Is he over the flu yet?
His wife died last year and he’s still not over it.
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from a higher to a lower position; down:
The little boy fell over and started to cry.
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again or repeatedly:
You’ve ruined it – now I’ll have to do it over.
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Over also describes the way an object moves or is moved so that a different part of it is facing up:
The dog rolled over onto its back.
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(esp. of an event) finished, completed, or ended:
I’ll be glad when the meeting is over.
The game was over by 5 o’clock.
I'm worried about the test, but at least it will be all over (= completely finished)in an hour.
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too much or more than usual:
overpriced
overdressed
He’s always been an overachiever.
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more or greater than:
Free delivery on orders over $25.
Over 80% of temporary workers are part-timers.
The cable company has viewers in over 5 million households.
Shares fell by just over 1 per cent to 1,327p.
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during a particular period of time:
The loan can be paid back in instalments over 12 months.
Sales went up 300% over only six weeks.
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to become or make something become greater than a particular limit of time, money, etc. :
These additional costs made the project go over.
Be prepared to go over budget.
