beyond
Americanpreposition
-
on, at, or to the farther side of.
Beyond those trees you'll find his house.
-
farther on than; more distant than.
beyond the horizon;
beyond the sea.
-
outside the understanding, limits, or reach of; past.
beyond comprehension;
beyond endurance;
beyond help.
-
superior to; surpassing; above.
wise beyond all others.
-
more than; in excess of; over and above.
to stay beyond one's welcome.
adverb
idioms
preposition
-
at or to a point on the other side of; at or to the further side of
beyond those hills there is a river
-
outside the limits or scope of
beyond this country's jurisdiction
adverb
-
at or to the other or far side of something
-
outside the limits of something
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of beyond
First recorded before 1000; Middle English beyonden, Old English begeondan. See be-, yond (adverb)
Explanation
Beyond is an adverb that means “in addition” or “farther along." If you’re headed to the silo beyond the barn, that means you’re going to the silo that’s on the far side of the barn. Beyond is related to the word yonder, which you might have heard in expressions like, “Over yonder hill, you’ll see a picket fence.” Yonder kind of means “that one over there, in the distance.” Beyond is past yonder. If you’re going above and beyond, it means you’re doing more than was expected. If you’re beyond Kelly in your math homework, it means you’ve done more than she has. And if the show was beyond your expectations, it was better than you had hoped.
Vocabulary lists containing beyond
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The consequences of this dynamic extend beyond Omar.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
Because problems with the intestinal barrier are associated with several gastrointestinal disorders, a treatment that strengthens this barrier might have benefits beyond protecting the liver.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
Selling loans to fund client payouts delivered “a result for the investors that is far beyond what any other equivalent product has accomplished,” the Blue Owl spokesman said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
She noted that tourists and security footage showed the dog had not wandered beyond a roughly two-mile stretch of the Canyon Village area.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
She loved the people she saw in the street—and beyond: her love took in the city, the land of Holland, the world.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.