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

Although a subsurface dam stores less water than an aboveground dam, its construction is less disruptive to the surrounding environment, and the water is more protected from contamination and evaporation. — Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026

In an initial ruling that the government also appealed, Leon barred aboveground work on the ballroom from proceeding without congressional approval. — Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

This storage method, according to the Department of Energy, is up to 10 times cheaper than aboveground tanks and 20 times cheaper than hard rock mines. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 11 June 2026

In March, a federal judge halted aboveground construction, but an appeals court quickly allowed work to resume through June while the case proceeds. — Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

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