beyond

be|yond1 [ bı`jand ] function word ***

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 Danube River and beyond.

1. ) past a place or outside an area

a ) MAINLY LITERARY farther away than something else:

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

Traders looked eastward to India and beyond.

b ) outside a particular area:

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

2. ) not within the limits of something outside the range or limits of a subject, quality, or activity:

Our knowledge does not extend much beyond these few facts.

Scott pushed his men beyond the limits of human endurance.

The fans' behavior on Sunday went beyond what is acceptable.

3. ) except used in negative sentences to mean except :

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

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

4. ) not able to be done

a ) used for saying that something cannot be done:

The situation is already beyond our control.

Martin was living in Brazil, beyond the reach of the FBI.

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

b ) beyond belief/recognition used for saying that you cannot believe or recognize something:

The center of the city has changed beyond all recognition.

c ) beyond doubt/dispute used for saying that something is so certain that it cannot be doubted or argued about:

Brady's guilt had been proved beyond doubt.

5. ) after a time or age, or above an amount

a ) continuing after a particular time or date:

Some people will prefer to continue working beyond 65.

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

b ) more than a particular amount or higher than a particular level:

Inflation had risen beyond ten percent.

She never went beyond tenth grade in school.

be beyond someone

to be too difficult for someone to understand or deal with:

The system was unusually complicated and completely beyond the new trainees.

it's beyond me why/how/what: It's beyond me why anyone would want to marry him.

beyond

be|yond 2 [ bı`jand ] noun

the back of beyond

a place that is far away from any towns or cities:

He comes from some little town in the back of beyond.

the (great) beyond OFTEN HUMOROUS

where some people believe people's spirits go after they die