English Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition beyond in British English

beyond adverb, preposition

adverb, preposition
/bɪˈjɒnd/

Beyond can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): the world beyond the prison wall

as an adverb (without a following noun): The empire extended to the River Danube and beyond.

1

further away than something else

1.1

further away than something else

Example

He could see a line of cypress trees and, beyond it, a landscape of red hills.

Example

Traders looked eastwards to India and beyond.

Synonyms and related words
Example

By now Dr Barnard's fame had spread far beyond South Africa.

Synonyms and related words
Example

Our knowledge does not extend much beyond these few facts.

Example

Scott pushed his men beyond the limits of human endurance.

Example

The government has introduced measures that go far beyond anything that was in their manifesto.

3

used in negative sentences to mean 'except'

Example

I know nothing about him beyond the fact that he used to work for the government.

Example

She had no income beyond what she could earn as a waitress.

Synonyms and related words
4

continuing after a particular time or date

4.1

continuing after a particular time or date

Example

We aren't attempting to plan ahead beyond the next two years.

Example

Some people will prefer to continue working beyond 65.

Synonyms and related words
4.2

more than a particular amount or higher than a particular level

Example

Inflation had risen beyond 10%.

Example

She never went beyond Year 12 in school.

Synonyms and related words
5

used for saying that something cannot be done

Example

The situation is already beyond our control.

Example

Martin was living in Brazil, beyond the reach of the British police.

Example

I'm afraid the watch is damaged beyond repair (=it cannot be repaired).

Definition beyond in British English