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above
[ uh-buhv ]
adverb
- in, at, or to a higher place.
- overhead, upstairs, or in the sky:
My brother lives in the apartment above. A flock of birds circled above.
- higher in rank, authority, or power:
She was told to speak to the person above.
- higher in quantity or number:
books with 100 pages and above.
- before or earlier, especially in a book or other piece of writing; foregoing: Compare below ( def 6 ).
the remark quoted above.
- in or to heaven:
gone to her eternal rest above.
- Zoology. on the upper or dorsal side.
- Theater. upstage. Compare below ( def 9 ).
- higher than zero on the temperature scale:
The temperature dropped to ten above this morning.
preposition
- in or to a higher place than; over:
to fly above the clouds;
the floor above ours.
- more in quantity or number than; in excess of:
The program is open to all girls above six years of age.
The weight is above a ton.
- superior in rank, authority, or standing to:
A captain is above a lieutenant.
- beyond the reach of or exempted from (dishonorable thoughts or deeds), especially in the eyes of others:
So scrupulously had she maintained her reputation that she was above suspicion.
As professional adults, we ought to be above bad behavior.
- too honorable a character; too good for:
He refused to participate, being above such trickery.
- rather than; in preference to:
to favor one child above the other.
- beyond, especially north of:
six miles above Baltimore.
- Theater. upstage of.
adjective
- said, mentioned, or written above; foregoing:
the above explanation.
noun
- something that was said, mentioned, or written above:
to refer to the above.
- the person or persons previously indicated:
The above will all stand trial.
- heaven:
truly a gift from above.
- a higher authority:
an order from above.
above
/ əˈbʌv /
preposition
- on top of or higher than; over
the sky above the earth
- greater than in quantity or degree
above average in weight
- superior to or prior to
to place honour above wealth
- too honourable or high-minded for
above petty gossiping
- too respected for; beyond
above suspicion
above reproach
- too difficult to be understood by
the talk was above me
- louder or higher than (other noise)
I heard her call above the radio
- in preference to
I love you above all others
- north of
which town lies just above London?
- upstream from
- above allmost of all; especially
- above and beyondin addition to
- above oneselfpresumptuous or conceited
adverb
- in or to a higher place
the sky above
- in a previous place (in something written)
- ( in combination )
the above-mentioned clause
- higher in rank or position
- in or concerned with heaven
seek the things that are above
noun
- the abovesomething that is above or previously mentioned
adjective
- mentioned or appearing in a previous place (in something written)
Usage Note
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of above1
Idioms and Phrases
More idioms and phrases containing above
- all (none) of the above
- cut above
- head and shoulders above
- over and above
Example Sentences
Vegetables and vegetable juices should be discarded if they’ve been above 40 degrees F for six hours or more, even if they look and smell fine.
It started in Altadena in the hills above Pasadena at around 18:30 local time on Tuesday.
Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Manchester City was a ninth loss in 20 league games this season and left the club 14th - seven points above the relegation zone.
"He was also a deeply aspirational person. He didn't want to be defined by his difficult life; he wanted to rise above that," he said.
It looks like another fight for survival for the Toffees, teetering two places and just one point above the relegation zone.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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