beyond
gb/bɪjˈɔnd/ us/bɪjˈɔnd/
A2
English
~ 1000
Senses
0 senses
preposition
A2
relation
1
on the farther side of
On or past the other side of something.
Usage pattern:
beyond [a place/thing]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'beyond' with 'behind'; 'behind' means at the back, not on the other side of something.
Synonyms
past (Often interchangeable, but 'past' can also mean 'after a time'.)
Antonyms
before (Indicates being on the nearer side rather than farther away.)
Collocations
beyond the horizon
|beyond the fence
|beyond the border
|beyond the mountains
Themes
location
|travel
|directions
|space
Examples
- The park is just beyond the river.
- They traveled beyond the mountains into a remote valley.
- The castle lies beyond the forest.
- She could see lights twinkling beyond the hills.
Learner examples
- The shop is beyond the bridge.
- My school is beyond the park.
- The farm is beyond that road.
preposition
B1
relation
2
outside limits of ability
Not possible for someone to do, understand, or reach.
Usage pattern:
beyond [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'beyond me' means physically farther away from them; here it means too difficult to understand or do.
Synonyms
outside (General term for not within a limit; less figurative.)
Antonyms
within (Indicates being inside limits of ability or understanding.)
Collocations
beyond repair
|beyond belief
|beyond recognition
|beyond control
Themes
ability
|knowledge
|limits
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This problem is beyond my understanding.
- The damage was beyond repair.
- It was beyond her control to change the situation.
- The concept is beyond the grasp of most beginners.
Learner examples
- This math is beyond me.
- The car is beyond repair.
- It is beyond my control.
adverb
B1
relation
3
at a greater distance/degree
Further than a place, time, or level.
Synonyms
further ('Further' is more general and common in everyday speech for distance or degree.)
Antonyms
nearer (Closer in distance or degree.)
Collocations
and beyond
|far beyond
|go beyond
Themes
location
|time
|space
Examples
- The trail continues for another mile and beyond.
- Her influence extends far beyond her own country.
- We must look beyond today and plan for the future.
Learner examples
- The road goes on and beyond.
- He works beyond normal hours.
- Look beyond the wall.
Noun
literary
B2
entity
4
unknown place after death
A place people believe you go after you die.
Synonyms
afterlife ('Afterlife' is more common in religious contexts; 'the beyond' is more poetic.)
Antonyms
life (Refers to existence before death.)
Collocations
the great beyond
Themes
religion
|mystery
Examples
- Some believe she now lives in the great beyond.
- He wondered what awaited him in the beyond.
- Poets have long written about the mysteries of the beyond.
Learner examples
- Some people believe in the beyond.
- He thinks about the great beyond.
- Stories talk about the beyond.
Grammar
Dictionary form
beyond
IPA
GB/bɪjˈɔnd/
US/bɪjˈɔnd/
Syllables & stress
bey - ond (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ond)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: beyond
- Plural: beyonds
Word family
Forms
beyonds
noun
Negative and opposite forms
within
preposition A2
Expressions
beyond doubt
1/bɪjˈɔnd dˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
completely certain
Completely certain; without any question.
Examples
- It is beyond doubt that she is qualified for the job.
- The evidence proved his guilt beyond doubt.
beyond recognition
1/bɪjˈɔnd ɹˌɛkəɡnˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
changed so much it can't be identified
Changed so much that it cannot be recognized.
Examples
- The town has changed beyond recognition since I was last here.
- The photo was blurred beyond recognition.
the great beyond
1/ðə ɡɹˈeɪt bɪjˈɔnd/
fixed phrase
literary
life after death (poetic)
A poetic way to say life after death.
Examples
- He passed peacefully into the great beyond.
- They wondered what lay in the great beyond.
beyond belief
1/bɪjˈɔnd bɪlˈif/
fixed phrase
Extremely unbelievable or surprising
So surprising, bad, or good that it is hard to believe.
Examples
- The damage from the storm was beyond belief.
- Her kindness was beyond belief.
beyond belief
2/bɪjˈɔnd bɪlˈif/
fixed phrase
extremely hard to believe
So strange, bad, or good that it is hard to believe.
Examples
- Her kindness was beyond belief.
- The mess in his room was beyond belief.
beyond repair
1/bɪjˈɔnd ɹɪpˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
impossible to fix or restore
So damaged that it cannot be fixed.
Examples
- The car was damaged beyond repair in the accident.
- The phone was dropped in water and is beyond repair.
- Their friendship was ruined beyond repair.
- Their relationship was beyond repair after years of fighting.