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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | ofer |
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o‧ver1 S1 W1
1 above or higher than something, without touching it [≠ 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.
above
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 on something or covering it [≠ 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.
covering
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 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.
across
Somehow the sheep had jumped over the fence.The road over the mountains is steep and dangerous.a bridge over the River ThamesTheir house has a magnificent view over the bay.4 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.
on the other side
There's a bus stop just over the road.They live over the river in Richmond.5 down from the edge of something : The car plunged over a cliff.
down from something
The car plunged over a cliff.6 in or to many parts of a particular place, organization, or thing : He used to wander over the moors, losing all track of time.
in many parts of something
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.
They said they had cleaned up but there were bottles all over the place.Scientists from all over the world gather here.7 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).
no longer affected
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 particular number, amount, or level [≠ 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 limit
more than
The Japanese were producing over 100 million tons of steel.toys suitable for children over the age of threedrivers who go over the speed limit9 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 usage note since
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?10 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.
concerning
He's having problems over his income tax.a row over public expenditureThere is concern over the bad image of the legal profession.11 in control of or influencing someone or something : Genghiz ruled over an empire that stretched from Persia across to China. She had great personal influence and power over her followers.
controlling
Genghiz ruled over an empire that stretched from Persia across to China.She had great personal influence and power over her followers.12 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.
better
Ipswich's 3-1 win over Manchester CityCan Labour maintain its lead over the Conservatives?It has one great advantage over its rivals.13 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.
by telephone/radio
TCBI don't want to talk about this over the telephone.I heard the news over the radio.14 in addition to something : He gets a travel allowance over and above his existing salary.
over and above
He gets a travel allowance over and above his existing salary.15 making a sound louder than another sound : 'What?' he yelled over the noise of the engine and the wind.
louder than something
'What?' he yelled over the noise of the engine and the wind.16 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?
preferring
What is your main reason for choosing one restaurant over another?WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
since, for, during, overUse since to say that something started at a point in time in the past, and is still continuing • He has been living in Leeds since 1998. • We've known about it since May. Since is usually followed by a time expression ('last year', 'this morning', '4 o'clock' etc) or by the simple past tense. Use the present perfect or the past perfect in the other clause • I have loved movies since I first went to the cinema. • He had been seriously ill since Christmas.!! Speakers of British English usually say it is a long time/two weeks etc since..., and speakers of American English it has been a long time/two weeks etc since..., but both uses are correct • It's weeks (BrE)/It's been weeks (AmE) since I saw Grandma.Use for when you state the length of time that something has been happening • We have known each other for ten years (NOT since ten years). • I had been waiting for hours (NOT since hours). • I haven't seen him for ages (NOT since ages).During and over are used when you state the period of time in which something happens or changes • During her first year at college, she had several boyfriends. • Over the last six months, crime has doubled. ➔ See also since
WORD CHOICE: since, for, during, overUse since to say that something started at a point in time in the past, and is still continuing • He has been living in Leeds since 1998. • We've known about it since May. Since is usually followed by a time expression ('last year', 'this morning', '4 o'clock' etc) or by the simple past tense. Use the present perfect or the past perfect in the other clause • I have loved movies since I first went to the cinema. • He had been seriously ill since Christmas.!! Speakers of British English usually say it is a long time/two weeks etc since..., and speakers of American English it has been a long time/two weeks etc since..., but both uses are correct • It's weeks (BrE)/It's been weeks (AmE) since I saw Grandma.Use for when you state the length of time that something has been happening • We have known each other for ten years (NOT since ten years). • I had been waiting for hours (NOT since hours). • I haven't seen him for ages (NOT since ages).During and over are used when you state the period of time in which something happens or changes • During her first year at college, she had several boyfriends. • Over the last six months, crime has doubled. ➔ See also since
