above

1 of 4

adverb

ə-ˈbəv 

1

a

: in the sky : overhead

the clouds above

b

: in or to heaven

2

a

: in or to a higher place

b

: higher on the same page or on a preceding page

except as stated above

c

: upstairs

d

: above zero

10 degrees above

3

: in or to a higher rank or number

30 and above

4

archaic : in addition : besides

5

: upstage

above

2 of 4

preposition

1

a

: in or to a higher place than : over

a room above the store

b

: upriver of

anchored about 10 miles above the city

2

a

: superior to (as in rank, quality, or degree)

A sergeant is above a corporal.

b

: out of reach of

above suspicion

c

: in preference to

puts his child's needs above his own needs

d

: too proud or honorable to stoop to

not above taking undue credit

3

: exceeding in number, quantity, or size : more than

men above 50 years old

4

: as distinct from and in addition to

heard the whistle above the roar of the crowd

above

3 of 4

noun

plural above

1

a

: something that is above

Select one of the above.

b

: a person whose name is written above

Contact any of the above for more information.

2

a

: a higher authority

b

: heaven

Using Above as an Adjective or Noun: Usage Guide

Although still objected to by some, the use of above as a noun to mean "something that is above"

none of the above

the above is Theseus's opinion

—William Blake

and as an adjective

without the above reserve

—O. W. Holmes †1935

I was brought up on the above words

—Viscount Montgomery

has been long established as standard.

above

4 of 4

adjective

: written or discussed higher on the same page or on a preceding page

Contact me at the above address.

Synonyms

Adverb

• overhead
• upwards
• upward

Preposition

• atop
• over

Noun

• sky
• heaven
• bliss

Examples of above in a Sentence

Adverb

up above and down below

Temperatures range from 5 below to 5 above.

Preposition

He raised his arms above his head.

They hung a mirror above the mantel.

We rented an apartment above a restaurant.

Temperatures were above average all week.

men above 50 years old

She values her private time above her fame.

He puts his child's needs above his own.

Noun

in her dying days she was supposedly visited by an angel from above

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Just across the border with Bolivia sit the Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats, famous for flooding over during the rainy season and creating a perfect mirror of the bright blue sky above. —Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

Only if the request meets the criteria above is anonymity granted. —Meghan Ashford-Grooms, NPR, 29 June 2025

Preposition

On June 30, 1908, an asteroid about 65 meters wide collided with Earth’s atmosphere and exploded several miles above Siberia; the force of the blast flattened and burned millions of trees over an area of more than 2,000 square kilometers. —Kiona N. Smith, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

In February, the government unveiled a $7 billion Acceleration Fund aimed at raising defense spending above 3 percent of GDP—well above NATO's 2 percent benchmark. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

Noun

All of the above can have a significant positive impact on workplace occupants, which also includes contractors who periodically work out of the same offices and sites. —Dr. Jeremy Nunn, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022

All of the above makes Queensland, Australia, a top 2023 travel destination for you. —Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Dec. 2022

Adjective

Hurricane season forecasts: How many storms are expected? Federal forecasters on May 22 predicted a 60% chance of an above average season. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 2 June 2025

He was given a grade of 55, which translates to an above average pitcher. —Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English above, aboven, going back to Old English abufan, from a- a- entry 1 + bufan "above" (akin to Old Saxon bi-oƀan, Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene), from be- be- + ufan "above, from above," going back to Germanic *uban- (whence Old Saxon oƀana "from above," Old High German obana), from *ub- "above, on" + *-an-, adverbial suffix — more at over entry 1

Preposition

Middle English above, aboven, derivative of above, aboven above entry 1

Noun

Middle English above "a higher position," derivative of above, aboven above entry 1

Adjective

derivative of above entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

circa 1515, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing above

• above all
• above and beyond
• above/beyond reproach
• above/beyond suspicion
• above par
• above the fray
• above the law
• above water
• a cut above
• are/stand head and shoulders above
• from above
• get above oneself
• head and shoulders above
• heaven's above
• keep one's head above water
• none of the above
• over and above
• put/stick/raise one's head above the parapet
• rise above
• the above
• tower above/over

Rhymes for above

• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• of
• shove
• hereinabove

Kids Definition

above

1 of 3 adverb

ə-ˈbəv 

1

: in or to a higher place : overhead

2

: higher on the same or a preceding page

3

: in or to a higher rank or number

above

2 of 3 preposition

1

: in or to a higher place than : over

2

: superior to

a captain is above a lieutenant

above criticism

3

: too proud or honorable to stoop to

above such mean tricks

4

: exceeding in number, quantity, or size : more than

above the average

5

: as distinct from and in addition to

heard the bell above the roar of the crowd

above

3 of 3 adjective

: written above

Legal Definition

above

1 of 2 adverb

1

: higher on the same page or on a preceding page

the discussion above

2

: higher or superior in rank or authority

the court above

above

2 of 2 adjective

: written or discussed higher on the same page or on a preceding page

the above argument