From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishovero‧ver1 /ˈəʊvə $ ˈoʊvər/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1 ABOVEabove above or higher than something, without touching it OPP under A lamp hung over the table. She leaned over the desk to answer the phone. The sign over the door said ‘Mind your head’. We watched a helicopter flying low over the harbour.2 COVERcovering on something or covering it OPP under Over the body lay a thin white sheet. She wore a large jacket over her sweater. Mind you don’t spill coffee over my best tablecloth.3 CROSSacross from one side of something to the other side of it Somehow the sheep had jumped over the fence. The road over the mountains is steep and dangerous. a bridge over the River Thames Their house has a magnificent view over the bay.4 OPPOSITE/FACEon the other side on the opposite side of something from where you already are There’s a bus stop just over the road. They live over the river in Richmond.5 DOWNdown from something down from the edge of something The car plunged over a cliff. 6 PLACEin many parts of something in or to many parts of a particular place, organization, or thing He used to wander over the moors, losing all track of time.all over (something) (=in every part) They said they had cleaned up but there were bottles all over the place. Scientists from all over the world gather here.7 BETTER/RECOVEREDno longer affected if you are over an illness or a bad experience or situation, you are no longer affected by it → recover I think we’re over the worst of the crisis now. He had a fever last night, but he seems to be over it now. Sybil has never got over the shock of her mother’s death. I’m over him now (=I am no longer in love with him).8 MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNTmore than more than a particular number, amount, or level OPP under The Japanese were producing over 100 million tons of steel. toys suitable for children over the age of three drivers who go over the speed limitthe over-30s/50s etc (=people who are more than a particular age) a social club for the over-60s9 DURINGduring during Will you be home over the summer vacation? Over a period of ten years he stole a million pounds from the company. Can we talk about this over dinner?► see thesaurus at during10 ABOUTconcerning about a particular subject, person, or thing He’s having problems over his income tax. a row over public expenditure There is concern over the bad image of the legal profession. 11 CONTROLcontrolling in control of or influencing someone or something Genghis ruled over an empire that stretched from Persia across to China. She had great personal influence and power over her followers.12 better used to say that someone or something is more successful or better than someone or something else Ipswich’s 3–1 win over Manchester City Can Labour maintain its lead over the Conservatives? It has one great advantage over its rivals.13 USE somethingby telephone/radioTCB using something such as a telephone or radio I don’t want to talk about this over the telephone. I heard the news over the radio.14 → over and above15 louder than something making a sound louder than another sound ‘What?’ he yelled over the noise of the engine and the wind.16 preferring if you choose one thing over another, you choose that thing rather than the other What is your main reason for choosing one restaurant over another?
Examples from the Corpus
over• He rules over a large kingdom.• In this office there is one manager over a staff of 15 workers.• Over a two-year period, Nancy became addicted to painkillers.• Leaning over her desk, she grabbed the phone.• She wore a coat over her sweater.• Let's discuss the contract over lunch.• I've traveled over most of Europe but my favorite place was Austria.• He spilled beer all over my feet.• Did you go anywhere over New Year's?• A blue vest over that shirt would look great.• I put another blanket over the baby.• Just hang the towel over the back of the chair.• She put a blanket over the child's legs to keep him warm.• A thick layer of smoke hung over the city.• One of the men jumped over the counter and grabbed the money.• A cat jumped over the fence.• Almost half their sales are now made over the Internet.• She's been a great help to me over the past year.• I'd prefer not to talk about it over the phone.• one of the bridges over the Rhineall over (something)• Be either late or absent and the thirty-day clock begins all over again.• Since the shop opened in 1989, it has received over 200,000 visitors from all over Britain and overseas.• There was a sound of stir all over the house, pattering of feet in the corridors.• By this time there were medical people all over the place, many of them without a purpose, it seemed.• He can lick himself all over too, but we won't go there.• The works themselves were submitted by teachers all over town, and include two-and three-dimensional pieces.• Then it was all over, when Smith was bowled over by Cork.• Excuse me, they might say, you have death all over your face, it could be serious.the over-30s/50s etc• Voice over It's a powerful image of Swindon in the 50s seen through the eyes of a girl called Anne. overover2 ●●● S1 W1 adverb, adjective 1 LIE DOWNfalling down from an upright position into a position of lying on a surface He was so drunk he fell over in the road. Mind you don’t knock the candle over. Engineers are working to prevent the tower from toppling over.2 FOLDbending/folding so that someone or something is no longer straight or flat, but is bent or folded in the middle As Sheila bent over, a sudden pain shot up her back. He folded the paper over and put it in his pocket.3 CROSSacross a) from one side of an object, space, or area to the other side There are only three canoes so some people will have to swim over. The wall was crumbling where children had climbed over. I went over (=crossed the room, street etc) to say hello, but Vincent didn’t recognize me.over to We flew over to the US to visit my Aunt Polly.over from One of my cousins is coming over from France with his wife and daughter. Come over here and see what I’ve found. b) in a place that is on the other side of a space or area Bill lives over on the other side of town. She was standing over by the window. Do you see that building over there?4 PLACEin or to a place in or to a particular house, city etc You really should come over and see our new house. I spent the whole day over at Gabby’s place. We could drive over to Oxford this afternoon.5 finished if an event or period of time is over, it has finished Is the meeting over yet?over (and done) with (=used about something unpleasant) I’m so glad the mid-term exams are over and done with. You’d better give them the bad news. Do it now – get it over with. 6 to the side towards one side The bus pulled over to the side of the road. Would you move over, so I can sit next to you.7 GIVEgiving from one person or group to another The attacker was ordered to hand over his weapon. Most of the money has been signed over to his children.8 EXCHANGEchanging from one position or system to another The guards change over at midnight. We switched over from electricity to gas because it was cheaper.9 SIDEturning so that the bottom or the other side of something can now be seen Turn the box over and open it at that end. Josh rolled over and went back to sleep.10 MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNTmore than more than or higher than a particular number, amount, or level OPP under Almost 40% of women are size 14 or over. People earning £33,000 and over will pay the higher rate of tax. 11 very/too used before an adjective or adverb to mean ‘very’ or ‘too’ She didn’t seem over pleased when I asked her to wait. Perhaps we were all over enthusiastic about the project.12 REMAIN/BE LEFTremaining an amount of something that is over is what remains after some of it has been used There should be some money over when I’ve paid all the bills. There was a little food left over from the party.13 COVERcovered used to show that something is completely covered with a substance or material Most of the windows have been boarded over. Parts of the river were iced over.over with The door had been painted over with a bright red varnish.14 above above someone or something We stood on the roof watching the planes fly over.15 CAREFULtalking/thinking/reading in a detailed and careful way After talking it over with my wife, I’ve decided to retire. I’ll need time to read the contract over before I sign. Think it over carefully before you make a decision. 16 again American English if you start or do something over, you do it again I got mixed up and had to start over.17 → over and over (again)18 → twice over/three times over etc19 → all over again20 → over to somebody21 TCradio message spoken used when communicating by radio to show that you have finished speaking Are you hearing me loud and clear? Over.22 → over against something23 → it’s not over until the fat lady singsExamples from the Corpus
over• Almost 40 percent of women are size 14 or over.• I got so dizzy that I almost fell over.• Place the cheese filling in the middle of the pastry and fold it over.• The puzzle is for kids aged ten and over.• Turn the box over and open it at that end.• Josh rolled over and went back to sleep.• I'm over here!• The men agreed to hand over the stolen money to the authorities.• The wind blew over the table.• Dan bent over to pick up the keys.over there• There is great shouting and cheering over there.• You know she was downstairs drank it over there.• Well, I guess you could do it over there actually.• You went to pick up the check, you were over there, not by yourself.• And none for you, either, or for Jeanne over there, or Wyatt, or anybody.• Even that fat court officer over there, that tub Kamiiisky.over (and done) with• Now I've got to save up and get it over and done with.• Remove the failed bud, clean off any browning on the stem and paint over with a protective fungicidal paint such as Arbrex.• Did you talk it over with di Marco?• She should talk the situation over with Helen, she thought; but then said nothing.• Talk it over with her and let her tell you the truth.• Lee, who'd begun to climb it, trying to pull Caspar over with him, lost his balance and fell.• The engine of the big mechanical monster was ticking over with the deep throb of impatient, reined-in horsepower.and over• Hamilton has estimated that these two projects and the offshore development will create some 3,000 construction jobs and over 200 permanent jobs.• The finals consisted of 8 men's and ladies' veterans events from 40 to 65 years and over.• We hear one story being told over and over again, in many different ways, and with many different outcomes.• All saying the same thing over and over, and pushing and cajoling?• Go through gate on to sunken road and over stile on opposite bank.• You hear it over and over, talking with folks hereabouts.• Influenced by the lower pound, earnings jumped by 22 percent during the period and over the nine months.over with• The door had been painted over with a bright red varnish.overover3 noun [countable] DSCthe period of time in the game of cricket during which six or eight balls are thrown by the same bowler in one directionExamples from the Corpus
over• Fifty runs were assembled in the first 15 overs, but even maintaining that rate required a certain air of desperation.• A convincing one-day success was wrapped up with 15 overs to spare as Cheshire outplayed the Duchy in every respect.over-over- /əʊvə $ oʊvər/ prefix 1 TOO/TOO MUCHtoo much overpopulation overcooked vegetables overweight2 ABOVECROSSabove; beyond; across overhanging branches overhead telephone wires the overland route (=not by sea or air)3 COVERouter an overcoat4 ADDadditional We were working overtime (=working beyond the usual time).Examples from the Corpus
over-• an overcrowded roomOrigin over1 Old English ofer 