English Reference
preposition · adverb · noun

beyond

prep. · adv. · n.
US /ˌbiˈɔnd/ UK /bɪjˈɒnd/ be·yond UK spelling beyonds

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    prep.on the far side of something or further away than something.

    prep.on the further side of a physical boundary or at a greater distance than a specified point.

    Simple

    The small village lies just beyond those mountains.

    In context

    The explorers pushed deep into the valley, eventually discovering a hidden waterfall located just beyond the dense treeline.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    prep.later than a particular time.

    prep.past a specific point in time or continuing after a deadline.

    Simple

    It is rare for the shop to stay open beyond 6:00 PM.

    In context

    The negotiations continued well beyond midnight as both parties struggled to reach a compromise before the morning deadline.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    prep.more than something, or outside the limits of what is possible or known.

    prep.exceeding a particular amount, level, or capacity; often used to describe things that are impossible to understand or achieve.

    Simple

    The beauty of the sunset was beyond words.

    In context

    The complexity of the quantum physics lecture was far beyond the comprehension of the introductory-level students.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adv.further away or further along.

    adv.at or to a point further away or more distant.

    Simple

    From the hilltop, we could see the ocean and the islands beyond.

    In context

    The map showed the main road ending at the river, but the trail clearly continued into the woods beyond.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Informal

    adv.very much or extremely.

    adv.to a degree that exceeds normal limits; used as an intensifier.

    Simple

    The new restaurant is expensive, but the food is beyond good.

    In context

    The athlete's performance during the championship was beyond impressive, breaking three world records in a single afternoon.

    Usage

    In this sense, 'beyond' is often followed by an adjective to emphasize a quality.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Literary

    n.the unknown, or the life that some people believe happens after death.

    n.the unknown future or the state of existence after death; usually preceded by 'the'.

    Simple

    Many cultures have different stories about what happens in the great beyond.

    In context

    The poet spent his final years contemplating the mysteries of the great beyond and the legacy he would leave behind.

    here and now

Selling Fernandez would take their sales total beyond £250m.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

That search led her beyond her hometown of Brikama, about 30km (20 miles) south of the Kanyeleng women of Bakau.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026

From Middle English biyonde, from Old English beġeondan, from be- + ġeond; related to yonder.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old English beġeondan
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated