Above Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
Above means at a higher place or position relative to a specific point of reference. e.g., The painting hung above the fireplace.
Table of Contents
Above Definitions
Higher Position: Located at a higher level or position.
The bird flew above the trees.
Superior Rank: Holding a higher rank or status.
In the company hierarchy, her position is above mine.
Earlier in Text: Mentioned earlier on the same page or in the text.
As noted above, the results were inconclusive.
Beyond: Going beyond the scope of something.
His integrity is above suspicion.
Higher Authority: Coming from or ordered by a higher authority.
The decision came from above.
On high; overhead
The clouds above.
In heaven; heavenward.
Upstairs
A table in the dining room above.
To a degree that is over zero
15° above.
In or to a higher place.
In or to a higher rank or position
The ranks of major and above.
Over or higher than
A cool spring above the timberline.
Superior to in rank, position, or number; greater than
Put principles above expediency.
Beyond the level or reach of
A shot that was heard above the music.
In preference to
Chose quality above quantity.
Too honorable or proud to undertake
I am not above trying to bribe you. Do you think you are above bagging your own groceries?.
More than
Somewhat above normal temperature.
Upstream of
A dam positioned ten miles above the town.
North of
Minnesota is above Iowa.
An earlier part of a given text
Refer to the above for that information.
The person or persons already referred to in a text
The above hereby affix their signatures.
Appearing earlier in the same text
Flaws in the above interpretation.
Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, said of clothing.
He always put his coat on above his sweater.
In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface.
Farther north than.
Idaho is above Utah.
Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise.
(figuratively) Higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; higher in measure, degree, volume, or pitch, etc. than; out of reach; not exposed to; not likely to be affected by; incapable of negative actions or thoughts.
Even the chief of police is not above suspicion.
He was always above reproach.
I thought you said you were above these kinds of antics.
That's above my comprehension.
To cut above average
Higher in rank, status, or position.
To stand head and shoulders above the rest
(Scotland) In addition to; besides.
Above and beyond the call of duty
Over and above
Surpassing in number or quantity; more than.
That amount is way above our asking price.
In preference to.
Too proud to stoop to; averse to; disinclined towards;
The owner was above taking more than a token salary.
Beyond; on the other side.
(theater) Upstage of.
Directly overhead; vertically on top of.
Higher in the same page; earlier in the order as far as writing products go.
Into or from heaven; in the sky.
He's in a better place now, floating free as the clouds above.
In a higher place; upstairs; farther upstream.
Higher in rank, power, or position.
He appealed to the court above.
(archaic) In addition.
More in number.
Above zero; above freezing.
It was a cold day at only 5 above.
(biology) On the upper half or the dorsal surface of an animal.
The sparrow I saw was rufous above and off-white below.
Of heaven; heavenly.
(by ellipsis) Being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page.
Heaven.
Something, especially a person's name in legal documents, that appears higher on the same page or on a preceding page.
Higher authority.
(archaic) betterment, raised status or condition.
In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; - opposed to below or beneath.
Fowl that may fly above the earth.
Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach.
I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun.
In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the clouds above.
Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a foregoing page.
Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court above.
More than; as, above five hundred were present.
Appearing earlier in the same text;
Flaws in the above interpretation
At an earlier place;
See above
In or to a place that is higher
More than: Exceeding in number, quantity, or size.
Temperatures were above average this summer.
In Preference: Preferred or chosen over something else.
She values honesty above all else.
On the Surface: Positioned on the top surface or layer.
The oil floated above the water.
Superior to: Being better or more important than something else.
The needs of the many are above the needs of the few.
In the Sky: Referring to something in the sky or space.
The stars twinkled above.
Above Snonyms
Atop
On the top of.
A flag waved atop the building.
Higher than
Situated or positioned at a greater height than.
The shelf is higher than the door.
Superior to
Better or greater than.
His work is superior to that of his colleagues.
Exceeding
Going beyond what is allowed or stipulated.
The project is exceeding its budget.
Beyond
On or to the farther side; farther than.
The village lies beyond the mountains.
On top of
Positioned on the upper surface of.
There was a book on top of the desk.
Up above
At a higher place or position.
The stars up above were shining brightly.
Uplifting
Elevating emotionally or spiritually.
The story was uplifting, raising spirits above the commonplace.
Over
In a higher position or level than.
The plane flew over the clouds.
Surpassing
Exceeding or going beyond.
His achievements surpassing those of his predecessors.
Above Idioms & Phrases
Rise above
To overcome an obstacle or difficult situation.
Despite the criticism, he managed to rise above it and prove his worth.
Above the fray
To remain detached from conflicts or arguments.
Despite the heated debate, she stayed above the fray, keeping her comments neutral and constructive.
Above and beyond
Going beyond what is required or expected.
She went above and beyond the call of duty to help her students succeed.
Head and shoulders above
Significantly better than.
In terms of performance, their latest model is head and shoulders above the competition.
Above all
More important than anything else.
Above all, maintain your integrity in every situation you face.
A cut above
Better than the rest; superior.
The craftsmanship of their products is a cut above the rest of the market.
Above board
Honest and legal; open and transparent.
The business dealings with the company have always been above board.
Above one's station
Trying to be part of a social class that is higher than one's own.
She was accused of marrying above her station, but she paid no heed to such comments.
Above suspicion
Considered too honest or moral to do something wrong.
As the community leader, he was above suspicion when the scandal broke out.
Above the law
Believing oneself to be exempt from the rules that everyone else follows.
Corrupt officials who think they are above the law eventually face justice.
Above one's weight
To perform or operate at a higher level than one's perceived ability or rank.
She's been punching above her weight in negotiations, securing deals with much larger companies.
Above the salt
Of high standing or rank.
Guests seated above the salt at the banquet were of notable importance.
Above average
Better than the normal or expected standard.
His grades have been consistently above average this semester.
Live above one's means
To spend more money than one can afford.
They've been living above their means, accumulating debt to maintain their lifestyle.
Above reproach
So good or honorable as to prevent any criticism.
His conduct during the investigation was above reproach.
Above the fold
Important enough to be placed in the top half of a front page of a newspaper or webpage.
The story was so significant that it appeared above the fold.
Soar above
To exceed expectations; to rise high above the usual limits.
Her latest novel soars above her previous works in both scope and depth.
Keep one's head above water
To manage to survive, especially financially.
It's been tough, but somehow we've kept our heads above water through these hard times.
Eyes above the horizon
To look ahead or plan for the future.
Successful leaders always keep their eyes above the horizon, anticipating changes.
Above the waterline
Keeping financial or operational struggles not apparent or hidden from view.
Despite the losses, the company managed to stay above the waterline, presenting a stable front.
Above Example Sentences
The information you need is listed above.
The plane soared above the clouds.
Her grades were above the class average.
The clock was positioned above the doorway.
She places her family's needs above her own.
His loyalty is above reproach.
The ducks swam while the lotus flowers floated above.
He holds principles above personal gain.
The trophy shelf is mounted above his desk.
The legend of the map explained the symbols used above.
The order must have come from someone above.
The sun rose above the mountains, illuminating the valley.
She always looks above to the stars and dreams.
At night, the moon hangs above the horizon.
The water level rose above the riverbanks.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called above?
It is called above because it denotes a higher level or position relative to a point of reference. The term originates from Old English "abufan," which combines "a-" (on) and "bufan" (over).
How many syllables are in above?
There are two syllables in above.
What is the verb form of above?
Above does not have a verb form as it is used as a preposition or an adverb, not a verb.
How do we divide above into syllables?
Above is divided into syllables as a-bove.
How is above used in a sentence?
"The painting hung above the fireplace."
What is the root word of above?
The root of above is from Old English "abufan," with "bufan" meaning over or above.
What is a stressed syllable in above?
The stressed syllable in above is the second syllable, "bove."
Is above an abstract noun?
Above is not a noun; it's a preposition or an adverb.
Is the word “above” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Above, being a preposition or adverb, does not serve as a direct or indirect object.
Which determiner is used with above?
Determiners are not typically used with the term above in its function as a preposition or adverb.
What is the pronunciation of above?
The pronunciation of above is /əˈbʌv/.
Is above a noun or adjective?
Above is used as a preposition or an adverb, not a noun or adjective.
Is above an adverb?
Yes, above can function as an adverb.
Is above a vowel or consonant?
The question applies to letters within words; "above" starts with a vowel sound.
Is above a countable noun?
Above is not a noun.
Is the above term a metaphor?
Above can be used metaphorically to describe a status, level, or quality that is higher than something else.
Is the word above Gerund?
No, above is not a verb and does not have a gerund form.
Is above a negative or positive word?
Above is neutral; it does not inherently carry a negative or positive connotation.
Is above a collective noun?
No, above is not a collective noun.
Which vowel is used before above?
Not applicable, as above is not a noun and articles are typically not used before it.
Which conjunction is used with above?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used in sentences where above is part of the clause.
What is the plural form of above?
Not applicable, as above does not change form.
What is the opposite of above?
The opposite of above is "below" or "underneath."
Is the word above is imperative?
Above cannot be imperative as it is not a verb.
Which article is used with above?
Articles are not used directly with above as it is not a noun.
What part of speech is above?
Above is primarily used as a preposition or an adverb.
What is another term for above?
Another term for above could be "over" or "higher than."
What is the singular form of above?
Above does not have a singular or plural form; it remains unchanged.
Which preposition is used with above?
Above itself is a preposition; it does not require another preposition for its use.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
