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 Web
Susan Page, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024
Click on the plus arrow that reads New Notebook to start uploading your source material.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 2 Oct. 2024
Michael Leamy, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2024
Figlia-Peck adds the process of preparing snacks independently can be a big plus.
—Suzanne Hayes, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024
Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
That spinoff would eventually become Spirit AeroSystems, which Boeing is now buying back for about $4.7 billion plus debt.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 18 July 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for plus 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Adjective
The margins of error for the small subsamples of Latinos and Black voters are plus or 9 points − a potential shift of up to 18 points one way or the other − and other recent polls show Harris in a stronger position, including a lead among Hispanics.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024
Click on the plus arrow that reads New Notebook to start uploading your source material.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 2 Oct. 2024
Noun
This is a plus for vehicles such as long-haul trucks that need to go many hundreds of thousands of miles between engine overhauls.
—Michael Leamy, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2024
Figlia-Peck adds the process of preparing snacks independently can be a big plus.
—Suzanne Hayes, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024
Preposition
More international markets and popular for soccer plus niche sports.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
That spinoff would eventually become Spirit AeroSystems, which Boeing is now buying back for about $4.7 billion plus debt.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 18 July 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for plus
Dictionary Entries Near plus
Cite this Entry
“Plus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plus. Accessed 16 Nov. 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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