plus

1 of 4

adjective

1
: algebraically positive
2
: having, receiving, or being in addition to what is anticipated
3
a
: falling high in a specified range
a grade of C plus
b
: greater than that specified
c
: possessing a specified quality to a high degree
4
: electrically positive
5
: relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plantlike organisms (such as a fungus)

plus

2 of 4

noun

plural pluses ˈplə-səz How to pronounce plus (audio) also plusses
1
2
: an added quantity
3
: a positive factor or quality
4

plus

3 of 4

preposition

1
: increased by : with the addition of
four plus five
principal plus interest
2
: besides
used chiefly in speech and casual writing
plus all this, as a sedative it has no equalGroucho Marx

plus

4 of 4

conjunction

1
: and
eats alone, a hot beef sandwich plus a BLT plus apple pieGarrison Keillor
2
: in addition to which
it's also pretty on my open shelves, plus it smells goodNikki Giovanni
Using Plus as a Conjunction: Usage Guide

The preposition plus has long been used with a meaning equivalent to and (as in "two plus two"); people have come to use plus as a conjunction much like and. Sense 2 is considered to be an adverb by some. It is used chiefly in speech and in informal writing.

Examples of plus in a Sentence

Noun The apartment isn't perfect, but the fact that it has new appliances is a plus. The job doesn't pay well, but the convenient hours are a definite plus. Preposition The hotel has two restaurants, plus a bar and a swimming pool. Conjunction He works a full-time job during the day, plus he goes to school at night. I enjoy gardening, plus it's good exercise.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Miami is a plus 86 (meaning Miami has outscored teams by 86 points) when Martin was on the floor during the Heat’s past 11 games. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 However, Lee is more of a contact hitter and a plus defender in center field. Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2024 Launching a new venture Barcelona’s slow lifestyle and the warm Mediterranean weather were all plus points that supported Coe’s decision to open his own company, VistaFutura, in 2022 to help other expats find a home, connecting them with local architects and builders. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024 Kevon Looney has taken a step back on both ends and his plus/minus (-67) is second-worst to Wiggins. Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024 The starter version is free, the plus version (which includes features like route measuring and weather overlays) is free for seven days and then $39.99 per year. Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 The Knicks’ top three scorers (Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby) are at 128.5 points per 100 and a plus 25.9 in their first 12 games together. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 From there, hit the plus button in the upper left corner of the app to add a device, pick the Lifestyle category to find scales, select the Scale X, then follow the steps to pair the scale with your phone via Bluetooth, and give it a name. PCMAG, 26 Jan. 2024 And having a plus bullpen can make an average team look pretty good, too. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 2 Jan. 2024
Noun
One big plus of the Book of Dead is its bonus spins round. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Yes, the topping is very sugary, but for me, that's a plus. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2024 Psychological knowledge can aid competitive performance under pressure, help evaluate the benefit of pursuing perfection and assess the pluses and minuses of high self-confidence. Tom Siegfried, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 The weather and bugs that come along with South Florida summers lead to fewer visitors — which can be a major plus. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2024 Another plus is that the robot can integrate with existing systems and infrastructure, such as parking equipment, building management and payment systems. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2024 And here's a plus: 5% of all proceeds will be donated to environmental causes. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 4 Feb. 2024 What is the plot of 'Freud's Last Session?' But what the film has going for it is Anthony Hopkins, and that is a considerable plus. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 Jan. 2024 The natural look of this pair was a huge plus to our testers, though, as these were chosen as the most wearable for everyday looks out of the bunch. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 19 Dec. 2023
Preposition
Gardner Minshew, Colts: one year, $3.5 million plus incentives. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023 Most of the money for the project is to come from athletic department revenue – $120 million plus donations for approximately $195 million. Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024 Lewis’ five-year contract will pay a base of $1.75 million plus incentives, along with $100,000 in annual escalators, according to a Memorandum of Understanding obtained by the Union-Tribune. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2023 Comedy may well be tragedy plus time, but Matthew Perry was that rare performer who could dispense with the time and convey both simultaneously. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2023 The deal, worth $53 billion plus debt, would give Chevron even greater access to US shale production in Texas’ Permian Basin, a part of the industry where Chevron (CVX) has been a leader for years. David Goldman, CNN, 23 Oct. 2023 Marcus Mariota, Eagles: one year, maximum $5 million plus incentives. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023 Comedy is tragedy plus time, as Mark Twain is credited with saying, but could enough time ever pass to make decapitation funny? Margaret Gray, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2023 The company also entered into a settlement with the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, with the total amount payable to the U.S. through all three cases reaching $635.2 million plus interest. Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2023
Conjunction
Plus, kids receive a free 4-inch-by-6-inch photo download of themselves with their catch. Laura Daily and Bryan K. Chavez, The Know, 9 June 2017 A total of 29 states plus the nation’s capital have legal medical cannabis. Luis Gómez Romero, The Cannabist, 18 May 2017 This year there will be two Easter egg hunts, one at 9 a.m. and one at noon, with additional activities taking place from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Cost is $5 per child for an Easter egg hunt only, $10 for the hunt plus other activities. Daily News Staff, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2017 Of course, even Shanahan might balk at paying a double-premium for Cousins–a big, multi-first-round trade price plus a huge contract extension–who is, after all, not young any more and has had his shaky moments throughout his career. Tim Kawakami, Talking Points, 7 Mar. 2017 Plus, there are nights when the announced attendance figure at Nuggets or Avalanche games triggers chuckles because so many sold or accounted-for tickets appear to be going unused. Terry Frei, The Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2017 The After Midnight Group owns several Cowboy Jack’s, plus Cowboy Slim’s, Sally’s Saloon, the Cabooze and the Joint Bar; CPM developed the University of Minnesota DoubleTree by Hilton and University Inn. Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2017 Club fees are $200 per year, plus the cost to travel to and play those members-only tournaments. Brian Whitehead, Orange County Register, 4 Jan. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin, adverb, more, from neuter of plur-, plus, adjective; akin to Greek pleion more, Latin plenus full — more at full

First Known Use

Adjective

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

circa 1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plus was in 1537

Cite this Entry

“Plus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

plus

1 of 3 adjective
1
: mathematically positive
a plus quantity
2
: having, receiving, or being in addition to what is expected
now she is plus a kitten
3
: falling high in a certain range
a grade of C plus
4
: electrically positive

plus

2 of 3 noun
plural pluses ˈpləs-əz How to pronounce plus (audio) also plusses
1
: an added quantity
2
: something that is an advantage
that the machine operated quietly was a plus

plus

3 of 3 preposition
: increased by : with the addition of
4 plus 5 is 9

Medical Definition

plus

adjective
: relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plants (as a fungus) compare minus

More from Merriam-Webster on plus

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