1 : from, to, or at a place that is higher than (someone or something) : above
▪ The sun's coming up over the mountain. ▪ She looked at him over the top of her glasses. ▪ He stood over me [=he stood near me while I was sitting, kneeling, etc.] and asked what I was doing. ▪ Their balcony looks out over the city. ▪ He looked over the fence. ▪ A plane was flying low over the trees. ▪ The meat was cooked over an open fire. 2 : on top of (something)
▪ Someone hit him over [=on] the head with a rock. ▪ She slung the bag over her shoulder. ▪ They served grilled chicken breast over [=on] a bed of rice. : so as to cover (something) ▪ His hat was pulled low over his eyes. 3 : beyond and down from (something)
▪ Throw the rocks over the side of the boat. ▪ He fell over the cliff's edge. ▪ She knocked the glass over the edge of the table. 4 a : from one side to the other side of (something or someone)
▪ We've just crossed over the border into Canada. ▪ walking over [=across] a bridge ▪ Excuse me, I need to reach over you to get the salt. ▪ Tomato vines grew up and over the fence.
b : upward and across (something)
▪ We both jumped over the stream. ▪ They couldn't climb over the wall, so they dug a hole under/underneath it.
c : on the other side of (something)
▪ Our house is just over that hill. 5 : in the direction of (something)
▪ Hey, look over there! ▪ We're over here! ▪ those trees over yonder 6 : more than (a specified number or amount)
▪ I've been waiting for over an hour. ▪ We haven't seen each other in over a year. ▪ The condition is most common in women over 65. ▪ It was really hot yesterday. It must have been over 100 degrees. ▪ They had over 300 people at their wedding. ▪ That car costs well over [=much more than] $50,000. 7 — used to say that a person or thing is better than (someone or something else) ▪ The new model has several advantages over the old one. ▪ This is a big improvement over our last apartment. ▪ I would choose you over any other woman in the world. ▪ She now has a two-minute lead over [=she is two minutes ahead of] the other runners. ▪ When it comes to creative thinking, humans have it over [=are better than] computers. = When it comes to creative thinking, humans have the advantage over computers. 8 : in a position of power and authority that allows a person or thing to control (someone or something)
▪ We must respect those over us. ▪ The vice president presides over every meeting. ▪ She should be given more authority over her staff. ▪ We have no control over the situation. ▪ countries that hold power over their neighbors ▪ In this case, federal law takes precedence over state law. 9 a : so as to cover the surface of (something)
▪ A strange expression came over his face. ▪ People were boarding over their windows in preparation for the storm.
b : in every part of (a place)
▪ These trees once flourished over [=throughout] much of North America. 10 : throughout or during (a particular amount of time)
▪ I'll think about it over the weekend and give you my answer on Monday. ▪ He has accomplished many remarkable things over the course of his career. ▪ The festival is spread (out) over three days. ▪ happening/occurring/developing over a period of 20 years ▪ Over the past 25 years, she has been a valuable asset to our company. ▪ I've come to understand him better over the years. ▪ Over time, the paper begins to turn yellow and brittle. 11 : by using (a radio, television, computer, etc.)
▪ I heard it over [=on] the radio. ▪ We spoke over the phone just yesterday. ▪ sending messages over the Internet ▪ The game was broadcast over the air/airwaves. [=on television or the radio] 12 : because of (someone or something)
▪ Don't get angry over [=about] something so silly. ▪ He got into trouble over a comment about his wife's mother. ▪ She was crying over her old boyfriend. ▪ Afterwards, we laughed over the incident. 13 : concerning or regarding (something)
▪ There is still some controversy over [=about] the use of the drug. ▪ a dispute over the land ▪ the debate over assisted suicide 14 — used to describe something that is done while some activity (such as a meal) is taking place ▪ I plan to meet with my advisers over lunch. [=while we eat lunch together] ▪ We sat over our wine [=drinking our wine] and talked. 15 : finished with (something) : past or beyond (something)
▪ I think we're over the worst of it. Things should get better from now on. ▪ After she got over the initial surprise of being tricked, she started getting angry. ▪ He's upset now, but he'll get over it [=he will stop being upset about it] soon. 16 : without being stopped or prevented by (something) : despite
▪ She spoke to the police over the objections of her lawyer. ▪ Over the protests of several members, the committee passed the bill. 17 : without including or considering (someone or something)
▪ You can skip over that paragraph. ▪ I agree with what you've said, but you passed over an important point. 18 : more loudly and clearly than (another sound)
▪ The players couldn't hear their coach over [=above] the roar of the crowd. ▪ talking/shouting over the noise of the engines