above
- 01 A1 Beginner
prep.in a higher place or position than something else.
prep.located at a higher level than a reference point, though not necessarily directly over it.
Simple“The sun rose above the mountains and lit up the valley.”
In context“We watched the eagles circling high above the jagged cliffs, barely visible against the bright morning sky.”
PitfallThe bird flew above of the house. The bird flew above the house.Do not use 'of' after 'above' when it is a preposition.
- 02 A2 Elementary
prep.greater than a certain amount, number, or level.
prep.exceeding a specific numerical value, temperature, or measurable limit.
Simple“The temperature stayed above thirty degrees all afternoon.”
In context“The charity managed to raise well above their initial goal of ten thousand pounds within the first week.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
prep.having a more important job or position than someone else.
prep.superior in rank, status, or authority within a hierarchy.
Simple“A captain is above a lieutenant in the army.”
In context“In the corporate hierarchy, the regional director sits above the branch managers and reports directly to the board.”
- 04 A2 Elementary
- 05 B1 Intermediate
adv.mentioned earlier on the same page or in the same document.
adv.referring to a preceding part of a text or document.
Simple“As mentioned above, the results of the test were positive.”
In context“The data cited above suggests a strong correlation between sleep quality and cognitive performance in older adults.”
UsageOften used in formal reports or academic papers to avoid repetition.
SynonymsAntonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing something that was written earlier in the text.
adj.appearing or mentioned at an earlier point in the same writing.
Simple“Please read the above instructions carefully before starting the exam.”
In context“The above information is provided for guidance only and does not constitute a legal contract.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it modifies.
- 07 C1 Advanced
n.the people or things mentioned earlier in a document.
n.the person or thing mentioned previously in a written work.
Simple“All of the above must be signed by a witness.”
In context“If any of the above applies to your current situation, please contact our legal department immediately.”
UsageFunctions as a collective noun referring to a list or statement.
Synonymsthe foregoing - 08 C1 Advanced
prep.further away from the audience on a stage.
prep.positioned upstage of a specific object or person.
Simple“The actor moved above the sofa to wait for his cue.”
In context“The director instructed the lead to remain above the table to ensure the supporting cast did not block the audience's view.”
Synonymsupstage ofAntonyms
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-? Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-? Proto-Germanic *uz- Proto-West Germanic *uʀ- Old English ar- Old English ā- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Germanic *ub Proto-Germanic *-anē Proto-Germanic *ubanē Proto-West Germanic *obanā Proto-West Germanic *biobanā Old English bufan Old English abūfan Middle English aboven English above 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, the adjective, and the noun derive from the adverb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.