above

Meaning

Prep

1. Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, said of clothing.
2. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface.
3. Farther north than.
4. Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise.
5. (figuratively) Higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; higher in measure, degree, volume, or pitch, etc. than; out of reach; not exposed to; not likely to be affected by; incapable of negative actions or thoughts.
6. Higher in rank, status, or position.
7. (Scotland) In addition to; besides.
8. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than.
9. In preference to.
10. Too proud to stoop to; averse to; disinclined towards;
11. Beyond; on the other side.
12. Upstage of.

Adv

1. (not-comparable) Directly overhead; vertically on top of.
2. (not-comparable) Higher in the same page; earlier in the order as far as writing products go.
3. (not-comparable) Into or from heaven; in the sky.
4. (not-comparable) In a higher place; upstairs; farther upstream.
5. (not-comparable) Higher in rank, power, or position.
6. (archaic, not-comparable) In addition.
7. (not-comparable) More in number.
8. (not-comparable) Above zero; above freezing.
9. (not-comparable) On the upper half or the dorsal surface of an animal.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Of heaven; heavenly.
2. (not-comparable) Being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page.

Noun

1. (uncountable) Heaven.
2. (uncountable) Something, especially a person's name in legal documents, that appears higher on the same page or on a preceding page.
3. (uncountable) Higher authority.
4. (archaic, uncountable) betterment, raised status or condition.

Opposite of

below, beneath

Synonyms

over

up

🆙

on

🔛

on top

overhead

upon

top

🔝

on top of

high

upper

upstairs

upwards

more

high up

beyond

at the top

superior

more than

above-mentioned

previously mentioned

on high

on the top

supra

higher

before

north

foregoing

above mentioned

heaven

aforesaid

elevated

to

higher up

much

near

aforementioned

outside

aloft

in excess of

dominant

across

super

said

ahead

senior

overwhelming

premium

previous

on the surface

onto

Translations

sopra

über

arriba

oben

encima

au-dessus

sobre

boven

su

🆙

oberhalb

en haut

au-dessus de

super

sur

🔛

dessus

🔛

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈbʌv/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: above

Inherited from Old English: ābufan

Cognate with Icelandic: ofan

Cognate with Middle Dutch: boven

Cognate with Old Frisian: bova

Cognate with Middle High German: bobene

Cognate with Danish: oven

Cognate with Dutch: boven

Cognate with German: oben

Cognate with Swedish: ovan

Cognate with Old Saxon: oban

Cognate with Old High German: obana

In summary

From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from above”), Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene) from bī (“by”) + ufan (“over”); also cognate with Danish oven, Dutch boven, German oben, Swedish ovan, Old Saxon oƀan, Old High German obana.
The preposition, adjective and the noun derive from the adverb.

Sentences

This can avoid the above situation .

This leads to the above equation .

There are white stains above and behind each eye and behind each ear .

As long as there is water in a cooking pot , the temperature cannot rise above a hundred degrees Celsius .

The highest point in town is Croydon Peak , at above sea level .

Located high above the village of Septfontaines, the medieval castle is now privately owned .