aboveground

adjective

above·​ground ə-ˈbəv-ˌgrau̇nd 

1

: located or occurring on or above the surface of the ground

2

: existing, produced, or published by or within the establishment

aboveground movies

aboveground adverb

Examples of aboveground in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In mid-March, five test containers, filled with nonradioactive materials, were sealed in a special aboveground facility before being transported underground and stored along a 70-meter-long subterranean tunnel, to provide an initial proof of concept for Onkalo’s storage process. —Marta Abbà, Wired News, 23 Apr. 2025

Some are only designed for aboveground pools, while others can only be used in inground pools. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025

Another contract for aboveground construction associated with the extension between E. 96th and E. 116th Sts. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2025

As sirens warned of incoming rocket fire, the off-duty lookouts ran from their sleeping quarters to an aboveground shelter. —Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aboveground

• abound
• aground
• around
• astound
• background
• campground
• clothbound
• confound
• earthbound
• eastbound
• expound
• fairground

Kids Definition

aboveground

adjective

above·​ground ə-ˈbəv-ˌgrau̇nd 

: located or happening on or above the surface of the ground

an aboveground swimming pool