above

[ uh-buhv ]

adverb

1. in, at, or to a higher place.
2. overhead, upstairs, or in the sky:

   My brother lives in the apartment above. A flock of birds circled above.

3. higher in rank, authority, or power:

   She was told to speak to the person above.

4. higher in quantity or number:

   books with 100 pages and above.

5. before or earlier, especially in a book or other piece of writing; foregoing: Compare below ( def 6 ).

   the remark quoted above.

6. in or to heaven:

   gone to her eternal rest above.

7. Zoology. on the upper or dorsal side.
8. Theater. upstage. Compare below ( def 9 ).
9. higher than zero on the temperature scale:

   The temperature dropped to ten above this morning.

preposition

1. in or to a higher place than; over:

   to fly above the clouds;

   the floor above ours.

2. 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.

3. superior in rank, authority, or standing to:

   A captain is above a lieutenant.

4. 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.

5. too honorable a character; too good for:

   He refused to participate, being above such trickery.

6. rather than; in preference to:

   to favor one child above the other.

7. beyond, especially north of:

   six miles above Baltimore.

8. Theater. upstage of.

adjective

1. said, mentioned, or written above; foregoing:

   the above explanation.

noun

1. something that was said, mentioned, or written above:

   to refer to the above.

2. the person or persons previously indicated:

   The above will all stand trial.

3. heaven:

   truly a gift from above.

4. a higher authority:

   an order from above.

above

/ əˈbʌv /

preposition

1. on top of or higher than; over

   the sky above the earth

2. greater than in quantity or degree

   above average in weight

3. superior to or prior to

   to place honour above wealth

4. too honourable or high-minded for

   above petty gossiping

5. too respected for; beyond

   above suspicion

   above reproach

6. too difficult to be understood by

   the talk was above me

7. louder or higher than (other noise)

   I heard her call above the radio

8. in preference to

   I love you above all others

9. north of

   which town lies just above London?

10. upstream from
11. above all
    most of all; especially
12. above and beyond
    in addition to
13. above oneself
    presumptuous or conceited

adverb

1. in or to a higher place

   the sky above

2. 1. in a previous place (in something written)
   2. ( in combination )

      the above-mentioned clause

3. higher in rank or position
4. in or concerned with heaven

   seek the things that are above

noun

1. the above
   something that is above or previously mentioned

adjective

1. mentioned or appearing in a previous place (in something written)

Usage Note

Above as an adjective ( the above data ) or as a noun ( study the above ) referring to what has been mentioned earlier in a piece of writing has long been standard. A few critics object to these uses in general writing, believing that they are more appropriate in business or technical contexts; they occur, however, in all kinds of edited writing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of above¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English above(n), abufe(n), Old English abufan, onbufan, equivalent to b(e) by + ufan, cognate with Old Frisian uva, Old Saxon oban(a), Old High German obana, German oben, Old Norse ofan; “above”; akin to over ); up

Word History and Origins

Origin of above¹

Old English abufan, from a- on + bufan above

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. above all. above all.

More idioms and phrases containing above

• all (none) of the above
• cut above
• head and shoulders above
• over and above

Example Sentences

“As other courts and the county’s labor board have previously ruled, the Court of Appeals today found that the inspector general is not above the law,” union President Richard Pippin told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Around him, tiny peach trees the size of pencils stand above the browning grass underneath their parent tree.

From Salon

He spoke of his mother as aloof and unloving and preferred the company of his “noble father,” who worked as a railroad station master and housed the family in an apartment above the Tulln station.

From New York Times

“But there is still lots to investigate and this is both exciting and terrifying given the many threats listed above.”

From Salon

The latest three-month outlook through January shows equal chances for above or below normal precipitation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exceeding