above
above — adverb
1. in a spot that is over your head, or further up than where you are looking.
in a spot that is over your head, or further up than where you are looking.
Anaya looked up and saw two seagulls circling above.
verb + above showing what is overhead
The bedroom is on the second floor, and the attic is just above.
above with no object, meaning higher up
From the cliff path, the village looked tiny far below them and the eagles soared above.
contrast with 'below'
Imani painted the door blue and added a small lantern above.
above as a postmodifier of a noun
- circling above
- soared above
- passing above
- fly above
- below
directly opposite — at a lower position
Grammar Patterns
verb + above (location)
noun + above (postmodifier)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 6: this sense talks about real, physical position; sense 6 talks about position on a written page.
Common Mistakes
2. higher than a stated number, amount, age, or temperature.
higher than a stated number, amount, age, or temperature.
The roller coaster is only for children aged ten and above.
fixed phrase: [number] and above
On Saturday the temperature climbed to thirty degrees and above.
above used after a value
Tickets cost twenty dollars, but kids under five pay nothing and adults from sixty and above get a discount.
age threshold pattern
The sales team brought in five million dollars and above for three years running.
money threshold
- and above
- rated above
- scored above
Grammar Patterns
number + and above
above + number
Usage Note
Frequently appears in the fixed phrase '<number> and above', meaning that number or any higher number. The phrase usually includes the stated number, not excludes it.
Common Mistakes
3. used to introduce the point that matters more than every other point you have ju
used to introduce the point that matters more than every other point you have just made.
The hotel is clean, friendly, and, above all, very cheap.
above all introducing the strongest point
Sven wants a job that is interesting, well paid, and above all close to her family.
comma-bracketed sentence adverb
Above all, the children should feel safe at home.
above all in sentence-initial position
We need volunteers who are kind, patient, and above all good listeners.
above all in a list of qualities
- above all
- most importantly
more direct paraphrase, slightly more formal
- especially
weaker — adds emphasis but does not rank a point as the top one
Grammar Patterns
above all, ...
Usage Note
This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'above all', usually set off by commas. It is not a free adverb you can drop anywhere.
Common Mistakes
4. at a higher level on a list of jobs, ranks, scores, or grades than someone else.
at a higher level on a list of jobs, ranks, scores, or grades than someone else.
Sergeant Lopez reports to Captain Reyes, the officer ranked one level above.
ranked + above with implicit comparison
Daniel finished sixth in the marathon, with his brother one place above.
above describing a higher list position
Nurses report to the head nurse, and the doctors are the team above.
the team above (workplace hierarchy)
Our hockey club moved up to the league above after winning the championship.
the league above (sports tier)
- one place above
- the league above
- the rank above
- ranked above
Grammar Patterns
the rank/position above
noun + above
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (physical height) and sense 2 (a numerical threshold). This sense ranks people, jobs, or teams against each other on an organisation chart or league table.
Common Mistakes
5. having a status, character, or position that makes a particular action or treatm
having a status, character, or position that makes a particular action or treatment seem unsuitable.
The senator behaved as if she were above the rules that applied to everyone else.
be above + noun (the rules)
Mr. Choi was a humble teacher who never thought himself above sweeping the classroom floor.
be above + -ing
No player on the team is above criticism, not even the captain.
common collocation: above criticism
Aunt Rosa is a proud woman, but she is not above asking the neighbours for help when she needs it.
negated form: not above + -ing
- above the law
- above criticism
- above suspicion
- not above
- beyond
similar in 'beyond reproach', 'beyond criticism'
- too good for
more direct paraphrase; informal
- beneath
the same idea from the lower side: an action seen as too low for the person
Grammar Patterns
be above + noun
be above + -ing
Usage Note
Often used in the negative ('not above doing X') to suggest that the person is willing to lower themselves a little. The positive form ('She is above X') usually carries a critical or ironic tone.
Common Mistakes
6. further up in the current piece of writing, or in an earlier part that the reade
further up in the current piece of writing, or in an earlier part that the reader has already gone through.
See the first paragraph above for the full list of members.
see + above (cross-reference)
As mentioned above, the museum is closed on Mondays.
as mentioned above (sentence opener)
Please sign the form on the line directly above your printed name.
above describing position on a page
The total cost, listed above in section three, includes tax and delivery.
listed above + section reference
- see above
- as mentioned above
- noted above
- listed above
- described above
- earlier
more general — can also refer to time
- previously
formal; usually about time, sometimes about text
- below
later on the page or in the document
Grammar Patterns
see/mentioned/listed + above
as + verb + above
Usage Note
Common in academic writing, contracts, instructions, and reports. Phrases such as 'see above', 'as mentioned above', and 'noted above' point the reader back to text they have already read.
Common Mistakes
7. the whole group of names, items, or options that the writer has just given.
the whole group of names, items, or options that the writer has just given.
Question 5: Should we serve coffee, tea, juice, or all of the above?
all of the above (multiple-choice option)
Tomatoes, peppers, and basil all need sun and warm soil; none of the above will grow well in shade.
none of the above
The above are required to attend the safety briefing on Monday morning.
the above as a plural subject
Any of the above can act as a guarantor for the loan application.
any of the above
- all of the above
- none of the above
- any of the above
- the above
- the foregoing
very formal; legal and academic writing
- the preceding
formal; refers to what came just before
- the following
items listed below, not above
Grammar Patterns
the above + plural noun
all of the above
Usage Note
Almost always appears as a noun phrase: 'the above', 'all of the above', 'none of the above', 'any of the above'. Common in tests, forms, and formal lists.
Common Mistakes
above — preposition
1. in a spot that is higher than a particular thing or person, or directly over the
in a spot that is higher than a particular thing or person, or directly over them.
There is a small wooden shelf above the kitchen sink.
above + concrete location noun
A flock of geese flew above the lake at sunset.
above + lower object
The painting of the river hangs above the fireplace in the living room.
above + furniture noun (typical home description)
Camille held the umbrella above his daughter's head to keep her dry.
above + body part
Snow-covered peaks rose above the small mountain village.
above + lower place noun
- above the door
- above the sea
- above sea level
- above the clouds
- above the table
Grammar Patterns
above + noun (place)
Usage Note
Compare with 'over': 'above' usually means simply higher, while 'over' often implies covering or crossing. 'The plane flew over the city' (it crossed the city); 'The clouds floated above the city' (they were higher up, not crossing it).
Common Mistakes
2. greater than a particular number, amount, age, or measurement.
greater than a particular number, amount, age, or measurement.
Yesterday the temperature stayed above thirty degrees the whole afternoon.
above + temperature
The roller coaster is only for riders above one hundred and forty centimetres.
above + height/measurement
Sofia's reading score is well above average for her age group.
common phrase: above average
Hotel guests above the age of sixty get a free breakfast on Sundays.
above + the age of N
The factory cannot produce more than one thousand bottles a day, never above that figure.
above + that figure
- above average
- above zero
- above sea level
- above the limit
- above the age of
Grammar Patterns
above + number/amount
above + age
above average
Usage Note
When the number itself counts as included, prefer 'X or more' or 'X and above'. 'Above thirty' usually means thirty-one or higher, not exactly thirty.
Common Mistakes
3. treated as more important than something else, or chosen rather than something e
treated as more important than something else, or chosen rather than something else.
Good parents put their children's safety above their own comfort.
put X above Y (priority)
The basketball team values teamwork above individual glory and personal records.
value + above (preference)
Dr. Rashida places honesty above any other quality in his students.
place X above Y
Many older customers prefer fresh food above frozen products, even when the price is higher.
preference: above = rather than
- put above
- place above
- value above
- rank above
- choose above
- below
treated as less important
Grammar Patterns
put X above Y
value X above Y
Usage Note
Distinguish from preposition sense 1 (physical height) and sense 2 (numerical threshold). This sense ranks values, qualities, or choices on an abstract scale of importance.
Common Mistakes
4. having too good a character to do something dishonest, mean, or low.
having too good a character to do something dishonest, mean, or low.
Judge Bennett is widely seen as a person above bribery.
above + noun (a wrong action)
Even small children are not above telling a lie when they are scared.
negated form: not above + -ing
Mr. Han thought he was above cheating, but he peeked at his grandchildren's cards anyway.
ironic positive: thought he was above
A doctor is supposed to be above accepting gifts from drug companies.
above + accepting (typical professional ethics frame)
- above suspicion
- above reproach
- above the law
- not above
- beyond
as in 'beyond reproach'; similar moral framing
- too good for
informal paraphrase
- capable of
the opposite framing — willing to do something wrong
Grammar Patterns
be above + noun
be above + -ing
Usage Note
Object is usually a wrong, low, or shameful action (lying, cheating, bribery, gossip). Frequently negated ('not above doing X') to mean the person is in fact willing to do it.
Common Mistakes
5. loud or clear enough to be heard over another sound that is also happening.
loud or clear enough to be heard over another sound that is also happening.
Sven had to shout above the noise of the traffic to make herself understood.
shout above + noise noun
I could just hear the doorbell above the music coming from the speakers.
hear X above Y (competing sounds)
The conductor's voice rose above the chatter of the orchestra during rehearsal.
voice rose above + sound noun
It was hard to sing in tune above the roar of the wind on the hilltop.
above the roar (weather noise)
- above the noise
- above the music
- above the chatter
- rise above
- shout above
- over
very common alternative: 'shout over the noise'
Grammar Patterns
hear/shout/sing + above + sound noun
Usage Note
The object after 'above' is a sound or a noise (traffic, music, chatter, wind). Often used with verbs like 'hear', 'shout', 'sing', 'rise', and 'speak'.
Common Mistakes
above all
idiomThis phrase means more than anything else.
Above all, remember to bring your passport.
She values honesty above all other qualities.
above yourself
idiomThis phrase describes someone who thinks they are better than others.
After winning the award, he got above himself.
Don't get above yourself just because you got a promotion.
over and above
idiomThis phrase means in addition to something else.
He received a bonus over and above his salary.
The project requires extra time over and above the usual hours.
above — noun
1. the piece of text, or the people or things, that the writer has just listed earl
the piece of text, or the people or things, that the writer has just listed earlier in the document.
Please read the above carefully before signing the contract.
the above as a noun phrase
The above is a brief summary of the safety rules in our factory.
the above + singular verb (refers to a passage)
If you agree with the above, please tick the box and write today's date.
agree with the above (forms and contracts)
All passengers named in the above must report to gate twelve at six o'clock.
named in the above (formal lists)
- read the above
- sign the above
- the above states
- the above shows
- the foregoing
very formal; typical in legal documents
- the preceding text
longer, more explicit alternative
- the following
the part that comes next, not before
Grammar Patterns
the above + verb
Usage Note
Mostly found in legal, business, and academic writing. Compare with adverb sense 7 ('all of the above'): the noun usage stands alone as a subject or object, often with a singular verb when referring to a passage of text.
Common Mistakes
above — adjective
1. shown or written further up in this document, used to point the reader back to a
shown or written further up in this document, used to point the reader back to a fact, name, or section already given.
The above table shows the company's profits for the last five years.
above + noun (table)
Please return the form to the above address before Friday.
above address (common in letters)
The above example is taken from Chapter 2 of the textbook.
above example (academic writing)
All payments must be made to the above account by the end of the month.
above account (banking and invoices)
- the above table
- the above address
- the above example
- the above figure
- aforementioned
very formal; legal and academic
- preceding
common in academic writing; can also follow a noun
- following
appearing later in the document
Grammar Patterns
the above + noun
Usage Note
Used only before a noun ('the above table'), never after a linking verb. You cannot say 'The table is above' with this meaning. Common in formal documents: letters, contracts, reports, invoices.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- above-mentionedadjectiveC1
- aboveboardadjectiveC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: preposition/1
All five words describe one thing being higher than another, but they differ in contact and movement. 'Above' simply means higher; the two things do not need to be lined up vertically and they never touch — 'a shelf above the sink' just means it is higher up. 'Over' adds the idea of crossing or covering: 'a bridge over the river' spans it, and 'a plane flew over the house' moves across it; 'over' can also imply direct vertical alignment. 'On top of' demands physical contact and a horizontal upper surface ('the cat sat on top of the box'). 'On' is the everyday word for surface contact ('the cup is on the table') and is much more common than 'on top of'. 'Upon' is a formal, literary version of 'on'. Quick test: a hat 'on' your head touches it, 'over' your head can hover or pass across, and 'above' your head is just higher up.
Common collocations
Nouns
- the floor above
- the rank above
- the line above
- the address above
Adverbs
- high above
- directly above
- far above
- just above
- well above
Phrases
- see above
- as mentioned above
- all of the above
- none of the above
- rise above
- head and shoulders above
Prepositions
- above all
- above average
- above sea level
- above zero
- above the law
- above suspicion
Etymology
'Above' comes from Old English 'abufan', formed by joining 'on' (meaning 'on' or 'in') with 'bufan' (meaning 'over' or 'higher up'). 'Bufan' itself was a combination of 'be' ('by') and 'ufan' ('upward'). Over the centuries, the word lost its first vowel and softened in spelling, giving us the modern form 'above'. Its sense has stayed remarkably stable — from the earliest records it has meant 'higher than something else'. The figurative uses (more important than, too good for, more than a number) developed naturally from the basic spatial idea, treating importance, quantity, and morality as vertical scales.