# over

/ˈoʊvɝ/ (US) · /ˈəʊvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/over
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. above or covering

preposition · CEFR A1

in a position higher than something, or covering it.

For teachers: positioned vertically above or extending across the surface of something.

- She put a warm blanket over the sleeping child.
- The heavy clouds hung low over the valley, obscuring the mountain peaks from view.

### 2. across to the other side

preposition · CEFR A1

from one side of something to the other.

For teachers: expressing movement across a space, barrier, or surface from one side to another.

- The dog jumped over the fence to chase the ball.
- The hikers struggled to carry their equipment over the narrow stone bridge.

### 3. more than

preposition · CEFR A1

higher than a particular number, amount, or age.

For teachers: exceeding a specified numerical value, quantity, or limit.

- There were over fifty people waiting in line for the tickets.
- The project cost significantly over the original budget due to unforeseen structural issues.

### 4. during a time

preposition · CEFR A2

throughout a period of time.

For teachers: occurring during or throughout the duration of a specified period.

- We discussed the new plan over lunch yesterday.
- The company's reputation grew steadily over the next decade as they expanded into international markets.

### 5. movement to a place

adverb · CEFR A2

moving toward a person or a specific location.

For teachers: indicating movement toward a specific destination or the speaker's location.

- Why don't you come over to my house this evening?
- He walked over to the window to get a better look at the street below.

### 6. again

adverb · CEFR B1

doing something one more time, often because the first time was not good.

For teachers: indicating repetition, often from the beginning.

- I made too many mistakes, so I had to start the essay over.
- The director asked the actors to do the scene over until the timing was perfect.

### 7. finished

adjective · CEFR A2

when something has reached its end.

For teachers: having reached a conclusion or end state.

- I am so glad the winter is finally over.
- Once the meeting was over, the staff gathered in the breakroom to discuss the announcements.

### 8. cricket

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a set of six balls bowled in the game of cricket.

For teachers: a sequence of six legal deliveries bowled from one end of the pitch.

- The bowler took two wickets in his final over of the match.
- The captain decided to change the bowling attack after a particularly expensive over.

### 9. radio communication

interjection · CEFR B1 · Technical

you say this on a radio to show you have finished speaking and want an answer.

For teachers: a procedural word used in radio telephony to signal the end of a transmission while expecting a response.

- I have reached the target location, over.
- The pilot confirmed the coordinates and ended the transmission with a crisp 'over'.

## Examples

- The plane flies over the city.
- He jumped over the fence to get his ball back from the neighbor's yard.
- A sense of unease settled over the crowd as the sky darkened and the first drops of rain began to fall.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.