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)
plural pluses
ˈplə-səz 
also plusses
also plusses
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 equal—
Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx1
: and
eats alone, a hot beef sandwich plus a BLT plus apple pie—Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor2
: in addition to which
it's also pretty on my open shelves, plus it smells good—Nikki Giovanni
Nikki 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.
Synonyms
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 WebLouis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Allowing Brett to help himself and a plus one to the wedding is out of the question.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Despite that, some evaluators around the sport have long believed in Ohtani’s ability to be a plus outfielder defensively, noting his speed, athleticism and throwing strength as obvious fits at the position.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024
Tap the plus icon to add an alarm and choose your time.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 7 Feb. 2024
That compares with a plus 9.5 per 48 minutes for the troika of Butler, Adebayo and Highsmith – a group that started together for a time earlier this season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024
The central multifunction button handles playback and calls, while the plus and minus buttons control volume (quick taps) and track navigation (long presses).
—PCMAG, 17 Mar. 2024
These plus size patchwork jeans have a more rigid look but feature 1 percent spandex for some slight flexibility and long-lasting comfort.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
Then tap on the plus icon (with a circle around it) to add another emergency contact like Dad.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024
PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024
Overall, then, immigration appears to have been a big plus for U.S. economic growth, among other things expanding our productive capacity in a way that reduced the inflationary impact of Biden’s spending programs.
—Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
But Take Note While the length measurement feature is a plus, the tray doesn’t extend beyond 23 inches.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Knowing Spanish is a plus, but not necessary Can’t speak Spanish?
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024
The five previous billion-dollar plus winners were split among five states.
—Bychris Morris, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Another plus: These bars are organic and contain only real food ingredients (no harmful chemicals or additives), which can bring peace of mind to snackers wanting only the best for their body and their growing bumps.
—Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 15 Mar. 2024
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
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
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
Adjective
The use of race as a plus factor in college and university admissions is even older.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Allowing Brett to help himself and a plus one to the wedding is out of the question.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Despite that, some evaluators around the sport have long believed in Ohtani’s ability to be a plus outfielder defensively, noting his speed, athleticism and throwing strength as obvious fits at the position.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024
Tap the plus icon to add an alarm and choose your time.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 7 Feb. 2024
That compares with a plus 9.5 per 48 minutes for the troika of Butler, Adebayo and Highsmith – a group that started together for a time earlier this season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024
The central multifunction button handles playback and calls, while the plus and minus buttons control volume (quick taps) and track navigation (long presses).
—PCMAG, 17 Mar. 2024
These plus size patchwork jeans have a more rigid look but feature 1 percent spandex for some slight flexibility and long-lasting comfort.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
Then tap on the plus icon (with a circle around it) to add another emergency contact like Dad.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024
Noun
Not having to think at all about the Start button’s position was a plus in Windows versions going back more than 20 years.
—PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024
Overall, then, immigration appears to have been a big plus for U.S. economic growth, among other things expanding our productive capacity in a way that reduced the inflationary impact of Biden’s spending programs.
—Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
But Take Note While the length measurement feature is a plus, the tray doesn’t extend beyond 23 inches.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Knowing Spanish is a plus, but not necessary Can’t speak Spanish?
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024
The five previous billion-dollar plus winners were split among five states.
—Bychris Morris, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Another plus: These bars are organic and contain only real food ingredients (no harmful chemicals or additives), which can bring peace of mind to snackers wanting only the best for their body and their growing bumps.
—Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 15 Mar. 2024
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near plus
Cite this Entry
“Plus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plus. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plus
1 of 3 adjective1
: 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
also plusses
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
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