Word
above
US/əˈbəv/
UK/əbˈʌv/
Definitions
01higher than
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.
Español:encima
“The sun rose above the mountains and lit up the valley.”
“We watched the eagles circling high above the jagged cliffs, barely visible against the bright morning sky.”
Pitfall
The bird flew above of the house.
The bird flew above the house.
Do not use 'of' after 'above' when it is a preposition.
02more than
A2 · Elementary
prep. greater than a certain amount, number, or level.
prep. exceeding a specific numerical value, temperature, or measurable limit.
Español:encima
“The temperature stayed above thirty degrees all afternoon.”
“The charity managed to raise well above their initial goal of ten thousand pounds within the first week.”
03higher rank
B1 · Intermediate
prep. having a more important job or position than someone else.
prep. superior in rank, status, or authority within a hierarchy.
Español:sobrepasar, superar
“A captain is above a lieutenant in the army.”
“In the corporate hierarchy, the regional director sits above the branch managers and reports directly to the board.”
Synonyms
04overhead
A2 · Elementary
adv. in the sky or in a higher place.
adv. at or to a higher place; overhead.
“The stars were shining brightly in the dark sky above.”
“While we explored the cave, we could hear the faint sound of thunder rolling in the world above.”
Antonyms
05earlier in a text
B1 · Intermediate Academic
adv. mentioned earlier on the same page or in the same document.
adv. referring to a preceding part of a text or document.
“As mentioned above, the results of the test were positive.”
“The data cited above suggests a strong correlation between sleep quality and cognitive performance in older adults.”
Usage
Often used in formal reports or academic papers to avoid repetition.
Synonyms
Antonyms
06previously mentioned
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. describing something that was written earlier in the text.
adj. appearing or mentioned at an earlier point in the same writing.
“Please read the above instructions carefully before starting the exam.”
“The above information is provided for guidance only and does not constitute a legal contract.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it modifies.
Antonyms
07the aforementioned
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Formal
n. the people or things mentioned earlier in a document.
n. the person or thing mentioned previously in a written work.
“All of the above must be signed by a witness.”
“If any of the above applies to your current situation, please contact our legal department immediately.”
Usage
Functions as a collective noun referring to a list or statement.
Synonyms
08theatre stage
C1 · Advanced Theater Technical
prep. further away from the audience on a stage.
prep. positioned upstage of a specific object or person.
Español:eclipsar, hacer sombra
“The actor moved above the sofa to wait for his cue.”
“The director instructed the lead to remain above the table to ensure the supporting cast did not block the audience's view.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Jaan Roose, a three-time slackline world champion from Estonia, performed 120 meters above downtown Seoul on Thursday.” “Footage of Estonian slackliner Jaan Roose crossing a 160-metre long highline suspended 120 metres above the ground in central Seoul was live streamed as part of South Korea’s first such event.” “A wind turbine described by its developer as the world’s tallest now rises 365 meters (1,197 feet) above the sparsely populated landscape of eastern Germany, surpassing the height of the Eiffel Tower.” Etymology
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.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0