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above
[ uh-buhv ]
adverb
- in, at, or to a higher place.
- overhead, upstairs, or in the sky:
My brother lives in the apartment above. A flock of birds circled above.
- higher in rank, authority, or power:
She was told to speak to the person above.
- higher in quantity or number:
books with 100 pages and above.
- before or earlier, especially in a book or other piece of writing; foregoing: Compare below ( def 6 ).
the remark quoted above.
- in or to heaven:
gone to her eternal rest above.
- Zoology. on the upper or dorsal side.
- Theater. upstage. Compare below ( def 9 ).
- higher than zero on the temperature scale:
The temperature dropped to ten above this morning.
preposition
- in or to a higher place than; over:
to fly above the clouds;
the floor above ours.
- more in quantity or number than; in excess of:
The program is open to all girls above six years of age.
The weight is above a ton.
- superior in rank, authority, or standing to:
A captain is above a lieutenant.
- beyond the reach of or exempted from (dishonorable thoughts or deeds), especially in the eyes of others:
So scrupulously had she maintained her reputation that she was above suspicion.
As professional adults, we ought to be above bad behavior.
- too honorable a character; too good for:
He refused to participate, being above such trickery.
- rather than; in preference to:
to favor one child above the other.
- beyond, especially north of:
six miles above Baltimore.
- Theater. upstage of.
adjective
- said, mentioned, or written above; foregoing:
the above explanation.
noun
- something that was said, mentioned, or written above:
to refer to the above.
- the person or persons previously indicated:
The above will all stand trial.
- heaven:
truly a gift from above.
- a higher authority:
an order from above.
above
/ əˈbʌv /
preposition
- on top of or higher than; over
the sky above the earth
- greater than in quantity or degree
above average in weight
- superior to or prior to
to place honour above wealth
- too honourable or high-minded for
above petty gossiping
- too respected for; beyond
above suspicion
above reproach
- too difficult to be understood by
the talk was above me
- louder or higher than (other noise)
I heard her call above the radio
- in preference to
I love you above all others
- north of
which town lies just above London?
- upstream from
- above allmost of all; especially
- above and beyondin addition to
- above oneselfpresumptuous or conceited
adverb
- in or to a higher place
the sky above
- in a previous place (in something written)
- ( in combination )
the above-mentioned clause
- higher in rank or position
- in or concerned with heaven
seek the things that are above
noun
- the abovesomething that is above or previously mentioned
adjective
- mentioned or appearing in a previous place (in something written)
Usage Note
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of above1
Idioms and Phrases
More idioms and phrases containing above
- all (none) of the above
- cut above
- head and shoulders above
- over and above
Example Sentences
Hovering above the scene, commandos in helicopters were poised with automatic rifles.
Even the hot Jewish women I mentioned above did something a bit more “intellectual” than pageantry: acting.
Are you excited, nervous, afraid, all of the above for the new Star Wars films?
I fall back into a dream and then suddenly there is a tapping on the window just above my bed.
He was born in an apartment above the grocery store owned by his immigrant parents in South Jamaica, Queens.
It contains above eighty thousand houses, and about six hundred thousand inhabitants.
He didn't need to wait—as the birds did—until an angleworm stuck his head above ground.
It is then we make him our friend, which sets us above the envy and contempt of wicked men.
We had now approached closely to the foot of the mountain-ranges, and their lofty summits were high above us in mid-air.
Above all, he was amazed to hear me talk of a mercenary standing army in the midst of peace and among a free people.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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