o·ver  ( ōv ər)
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prep.1. In or at a position above or higher than: a sign over the door; a hawk gliding over the hills. 2. a. Above and across from one end or side to the other: a jump over the fence. b. To the other side of; across: strolled over the bridge. c. Across the edge of and down: fell over the cliff. 3. On the other side of: a village over the border. 4. a. Upon the surface of: put a coat of varnish over the woodwork. b. On top of or down upon: clubbed him over the head; tripped over the toys. 5. a. Through the extent of; all through: walked over the grounds; looked over the report. b. Through the medium of; via: addressed us over the loudspeaker; can't tell you over the phone. 6. So as to cover: put rocks over a cave entrance; threw a shawl over her shoulders. 7. Up to or higher than the level or height of: The water was over my shoulders. 8. a. Through the period or duration of: records maintained over two years. b. Until or beyond the end of: stayed over the holidays. 9. More than in degree, quantity, or extent: over ten miles; over a thousand dollars. 10. a. In superiority to: won a narrow victory over her rival; a distinct advantage over our competitors. b. In preference to: selected him over all the others. 11. In a position to rule or control: The director presides over the meeting. There is no one over him in the department. 12. So as to have an effect or influence on: the change that came over you. 13. At a point at which one is no longer troubled by: I'm not quite over the cold I caught last week. 14. While occupied with or engaged in: a chat over coffee. 15. With reference to; concerning: an argument over methods. adv.1. Above the top or surface: climbed the ladder and peered over. 2. a. Across to another or opposite side: stopped at the curb, then crossed over. b. Across the edge, brink, or brim: The coffee spilled over. c. Across an intervening space: Throw the ball over. 3. a. Across a distance in a particular direction or at a location: lives over in England. b. To another often specified place or position: Move your chair over toward the fire. c. To one's place of residence or business: invited us over for cocktails. 4. Throughout an entire area or region: wandered all over. 5. a. To a different opinion or allegiance: win someone over. b. So as to be comprehensible, acceptable, or effective; across: eventually got my point over. 6. To a different person, condition, or title: sign the property over. 7. So as to be completely enclosed or covered: The river froze over. Engineers sealed the tunnel entrance over. 8. Completely through; from beginning to end: Think the problem over. Let's read the memo over. 9. a. From an upright position: kicked the bookstand over. b. From an upward position to an inverted or reversed position: turn the paper over. 10. Another time; again: counted his cards over; had to do it over. 11. In repetition: made me write it ten times over. 12. In addition or excess; in surplus: lots of food left over. 13. Beyond or until a specified time: stay a day over. 14. At an end: Summer is over. n. Sports A series of six balls bowled from one end of a cricket pitch. tr.v. o·vered, o·ver·ing, o·vers To jump over: Horse and rider overed the stile with ease. interj. Used in two-way radio to indicate that a transmission is complete and a reply is awaited. Idioms: over against As opposed to; contrasted with. over and above In addition to: travel expenses over and above entertainment costs. over and over Again and again; repeatedly. over with Completely finished; done: Let's get the shopping over with.
Usage Note: While working as a newspaper editor in the late 1800s, William Cullen Bryant forbade the use of over in the sense of "more than," as in These rocks are over 5 million years old. Bryant provided no rationale for this injunction, but such was his stature that the stipulation was championed by other American editors, who also felt no reason to offer an explanation. Critics later allowed the usage in some contexts, but their reasons are dubious at best. In point of fact, over has been used as a synonym of more than since the 1300s. In our 2009 survey, 86 percent of the Usage Panel accepted over with the meaning "more than." This usage is fully standard. | 
