On vs Over

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

	On	Over
Meaning	A word used to indicate a position or time.	above or higher than something.
CEFR level	A1	A1
Part of speech	preposition	preposition
Usage notes	Used to specify location (e.g., 'The book is on the table') or time (e.g., 'We meet on Monday'). It's not used for 'in' or 'at' when describing other locations or times.	Used to indicate position, movement, or excess. Can denote physical position (e.g., the bird flew over the house) or metaphorical situations (e.g., over the limit). Avoid in very formal writing.

Frequently asked questions: On vs Over

What's the difference between "On" and "Over"?

"On" means: A word used to indicate a position or time. "Over" means: above or higher than something.

When should I use "On" and "Over"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "On" and "Over" the same CEFR level?

"On" is at A1, "Over" is at A1 on the CEFR scale.