Etymology

Shortened from the phrase above and beyond the call of duty, referring to heroic behavior during a military operation (“conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty”), traditionally used in citations of awards of a U.S. Medal of Honor.

Preposition

above and beyondCategory:English lemmas#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:English prepositions#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:English multiword terms#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:Pages with entries#ABOVE%20AND%20BEYONDCategory:Pages with 1 entry#ABOVE%20AND%20BEYOND

1. (idiomaticCategory:English idioms#ABOVEANDBEYOND) Further than; doing more than is expected or required.

   The hospital staff often go above and beyond what is required of them.Category:English terms with usage examples#ABOVEANDBEYOND

   Putting in overtime with no pay is above and beyond the call of duty.Category:English terms with usage examples#ABOVEANDBEYOND

   • 2021 June 30, Tim Dunn, “How we made... Secrets of the London Underground”, in RAIL, number 934, page 49:

     And what incredible access we were given (and thus passed on via the magic of television to a potentially huge audience), because of the work put in by the production team and TfL staff going above and beyond the call of duty.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ABOVEANDBEYOND

Adverb

above and beyond (not comparable)Category:English lemmas#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:English adverbs#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:English uncomparable adverbs#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:English multiword terms#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#ABOVEANDBEYONDCategory:Pages with entries#ABOVE%20AND%20BEYONDCategory:Pages with 1 entry#ABOVE%20AND%20BEYOND

1. (idiomaticCategory:English idioms#ABOVEANDBEYOND) Doing more than is expected or required.

   Boy, they sure went above and beyond when they were planning this party!Category:English terms with usage examples#ABOVEANDBEYOND

See also

• extraordinary
• supererogation
• superlative