Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - beyond

~1 prep 1 on or to the further side of something  (Beyond the mountains was the border territory.) 2 later than a particular time, date etc  (The disco went on until beyond .midnight. | The new law extends the ban beyond 1998.) 3 more or greater than a particular amount, level, or limit  (Most people do not choose to work beyond the normal retirement age. | Inflation has now risen beyond the level of 5%.) 4 outside the range or limits of someone or something  (Such tasks are beyond the scope of your average schoolkid. | The light switch was beyond the child's reach.) 5 beyond belief/doubt/recognition etc used to say that you cannot believe something, doubt something etc  (The town centre had changed beyond all recognition.) 6 be beyond sb especially spoken to be too difficult for someone  (Algebra was always beyond me.) 7 it is beyond me why/what etc spoken used to say that something seems completely stupid and you cannot understand the reason for it  (Why Joan ever married such an idiot in the first place is beyond me.) 8 used like `except' in negative sentences  (Fred owns nothing beyond the clothes on his back. | I can't tell you anything beyond what you know already.) ~2 adv 1 on or to the further side of something  (They crossed the mountains and headed for the valleys beyond.) 2 later than a particular time, date etc  (What changes await us in the year 2000 and beyond?) ~3 n the beyond literary whatever comes after this life