is over

USAGE SUMMARY

"is over" is a common phrase in written English.
You can use it when something has come to an end or has been completed. For example, "The game is over and the final score is 3-2."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This is over now.

The New Yorker

"My career is over".

The New Yorker

"Nothing is over yet".

Independent

His career is over.

The Economist

"That wait is over".

Independent

This concert is over!

The New York Times

RAMADAN is over.

The Economist

Nothing is over.

Independent

"The time is over.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

That is over-simplistic.

The Economist

England is over-centralised.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is over" to clearly and concisely indicate the completion or termination of an event, activity, or state. Ensure the context makes it clear what has ended to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "is over" when the event or situation is merely paused or temporarily suspended, not fully concluded. For temporary situations, phrases like "is on hold" or "is postponed" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is over" primarily functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state of a noun as having come to an end. Ludwig's examples showcase this in contexts like "The game is over" or "The war is over", where the adjective 'over' modifies the noun subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is over" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate the end of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly found across various contexts, primarily in news and media sources. While "is over" is generally neutral in register, it's crucial to use it appropriately, ensuring the event or situation has genuinely concluded, and not merely paused. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "has concluded" or "has finished" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has finished

Offers a direct synonym for "is over", emphasizing the end of something.

has ended

Provides a straightforward and commonly used alternative.

is done

A simpler, more informal way of saying "is over".

is complete

Indicates that something has been brought to a state of completion.

has concluded

Replaces "is over" with a more formal term for completion.

has ceased

Implies a more formal or definitive end than "is over".

is terminated

Suggests a formal or official ending.

is no more

Emphasizes the absence or non-existence of something after its end.

is a thing of the past

Highlights that something belongs to a previous time and is no longer relevant.

is kaput

An informal, often humorous, way to indicate that something is broken or finished.

FAQs

How can I use "is over" in a sentence?

Use "is over" to indicate that something has come to an end. For example, "The meeting is over, so we can all go home" or "The era of cheap gasoline is over".

What can I say instead of "is over"?

You can use alternatives like "has concluded", "has finished", or "is complete" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is over" or "was over"?

"Is over" refers to the present, while "was over" refers to the past. For example, "The game is over now," versus "The game was over an hour ago".

What's the difference between "is over" and "is finished"?

While similar, "is finished" often emphasizes completion of a task or project, whereas "is over" can apply more broadly to events or periods. For instance, "The project is finished", or "The summer vacation is over".