above
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: the remark quoted above.: Compare below (def. 6).
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.
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.
said, mentioned, or written above; foregoing: the above explanation.
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.
Idioms about above
above all. See entry at above all.
Origin of above
1usage note For above
Words Nearby above
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use above in a sentence
Hovering above the scene, commandos in helicopters were poised with automatic rifles.
Even the hot Jewish women I mentioned above did something a bit more “intellectual” than pageantry: acting.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America? | Emily Shire | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAre you excited, nervous, afraid, all of the above for the new Star Wars films?
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire | William O’Connor | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTI fall back into a dream and then suddenly there is a tapping on the window just above my bed.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHe was born in an apartment above the grocery store owned by his immigrant parents in South Jamaica, Queens.
Mario Cuomo, a Frustrating Hero to Democrats, Is Dead at 82 | Eleanor Clift | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
It contains above eighty thousand houses, and about six hundred thousand inhabitants.
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan SwiftHe didn't need to wait—as the birds did—until an angleworm stuck his head above ground.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott BaileyIt is then we make him our friend, which sets us above the envy and contempt of wicked men.
We had now approached closely to the foot of the mountain-ranges, and their lofty summits were high above us in mid-air.
above all, he was amazed to hear me talk of a mercenary standing army in the midst of peace and among a free people.
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift
British Dictionary definitions for above
/ (əˈbʌv) /
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 all most of all; especially
above and beyond in addition to
above oneself presumptuous or conceited
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
the above something that is above or previously mentioned
mentioned or appearing in a previous place (in something written)
Origin of above
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with above
In addition to the idioms beginning with above
- above all
- above and beyond
- above suspicion
- above the law
also see:
- all (none) of the above
- cut above
- head and shoulders above
- over and above
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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