above
above — adverb
1. in a spot that is over your head, or further up than where you are looking.
in a spot that is over your head, or further up than where you are looking.
Anaya looked up and saw two seagulls circling above.
verb + above showing what is overhead
The bedroom is on the second floor, and the attic is just above.
above with no object, meaning higher up
From the cliff path, the village looked tiny far below them and the eagles soared above.
Imani painted the door blue and added a small lantern above.
- below
directly opposite — at a lower position
文法句型
verb + above (location)
noun + above (postmodifier)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 6: this sense talks about real, physical position; sense 6 talks about position on a written page.
常見錯誤
2. higher than a stated number, amount, age, or temperature.
higher than a stated number, amount, age, or temperature.
The roller coaster is only for children aged ten and above.
fixed phrase: [number] and above
On Saturday the temperature climbed to thirty degrees and above.
above used after a value
Tickets cost twenty dollars, but kids under five pay nothing and adults from sixty and above get a discount.
The sales team brought in five million dollars and above for three years running.
文法句型
number + and above
above + number
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the fixed phrase '<number> and above', meaning that number or any higher number. The phrase usually includes the stated number, not excludes it.
常見錯誤
3. used to introduce the point that matters more than every other point you have ju
used to introduce the point that matters more than every other point you have just made.
The hotel is clean, friendly, and, above all, very cheap.
above all introducing the strongest point
Sven wants a job that is interesting, well paid, and above all close to her family.
comma-bracketed sentence adverb
Above all, the children should feel safe at home.
We need volunteers who are kind, patient, and above all good listeners.
- most importantly
more direct paraphrase, slightly more formal
- especially
weaker — adds emphasis but does not rank a point as the top one
文法句型
above all, ...
用法筆記
This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'above all', usually set off by commas. It is not a free adverb you can drop anywhere.
常見錯誤
4. at a higher level on a list of jobs, ranks, scores, or grades than someone else.
at a higher level on a list of jobs, ranks, scores, or grades than someone else.
Sergeant Lopez reports to Captain Reyes, the officer ranked one level above.
ranked + above with implicit comparison
Daniel finished sixth in the marathon, with his brother one place above.
above describing a higher list position
Nurses report to the head nurse, and the doctors are the team above.
Our hockey club moved up to the league above after winning the championship.
文法句型
the rank/position above
noun + above
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (physical height) and sense 2 (a numerical threshold). This sense ranks people, jobs, or teams against each other on an organisation chart or league table.
常見錯誤
5. having a status, character, or position that makes a particular action or treatm
having a status, character, or position that makes a particular action or treatment seem unsuitable.
The senator behaved as if she were above the rules that applied to everyone else.
be above + noun (the rules)
Mr. Choi was a humble teacher who never thought himself above sweeping the classroom floor.
be above + -ing
No player on the team is above criticism, not even the captain.
Aunt Rosa is a proud woman, but she is not above asking the neighbours for help when she needs it.
- beyond
similar in 'beyond reproach', 'beyond criticism'
- too good for
more direct paraphrase; informal
- beneath
the same idea from the lower side: an action seen as too low for the person
文法句型
be above + noun
be above + -ing
用法筆記
Often used in the negative ('not above doing X') to suggest that the person is willing to lower themselves a little. The positive form ('She is above X') usually carries a critical or ironic tone.
常見錯誤
6. further up in the current piece of writing, or in an earlier part that the reade
further up in the current piece of writing, or in an earlier part that the reader has already gone through.
See the first paragraph above for the full list of members.
see + above (cross-reference)
As mentioned above, the museum is closed on Mondays.
as mentioned above (sentence opener)
Please sign the form on the line directly above your printed name.
The total cost, listed above in section three, includes tax and delivery.
- earlier
more general — can also refer to time
- previously
formal; usually about time, sometimes about text
- below
later on the page or in the document
文法句型
see/mentioned/listed + above
as + verb + above
用法筆記
Common in academic writing, contracts, instructions, and reports. Phrases such as 'see above', 'as mentioned above', and 'noted above' point the reader back to text they have already read.
常見錯誤
7. the whole group of names, items, or options that the writer has just given.
the whole group of names, items, or options that the writer has just given.
Question 5: Should we serve coffee, tea, juice, or all of the above?
all of the above (multiple-choice option)
Tomatoes, peppers, and basil all need sun and warm soil; none of the above will grow well in shade.
none of the above
The above are required to attend the safety briefing on Monday morning.
Any of the above can act as a guarantor for the loan application.
- the foregoing
very formal; legal and academic writing
- the preceding
formal; refers to what came just before
- the following
items listed below, not above
文法句型
the above + plural noun
all of the above
用法筆記
Almost always appears as a noun phrase: 'the above', 'all of the above', 'none of the above', 'any of the above'. Common in tests, forms, and formal lists.
常見錯誤
above — preposition
1. in a spot that is higher than a particular thing or person, or directly over the
in a spot that is higher than a particular thing or person, or directly over them.
There is a small wooden shelf above the kitchen sink.
above + concrete location noun
A flock of geese flew above the lake at sunset.
above + lower object
The painting of the river hangs above the fireplace in the living room.
Camille held the umbrella above his daughter's head to keep her dry.
Snow-covered peaks rose above the small mountain village.
文法句型
above + noun (place)
用法筆記
Compare with 'over': 'above' usually means simply higher, while 'over' often implies covering or crossing. 'The plane flew over the city' (it crossed the city); 'The clouds floated above the city' (they were higher up, not crossing it).
常見錯誤
2. greater than a particular number, amount, age, or measurement.
greater than a particular number, amount, age, or measurement.
Yesterday the temperature stayed above thirty degrees the whole afternoon.
above + temperature
The roller coaster is only for riders above one hundred and forty centimetres.
above + height/measurement
Sofia's reading score is well above average for her age group.
Hotel guests above the age of sixty get a free breakfast on Sundays.
The factory cannot produce more than one thousand bottles a day, never above that figure.
文法句型
above + number/amount
above + age
above average
用法筆記
When the number itself counts as included, prefer 'X or more' or 'X and above'. 'Above thirty' usually means thirty-one or higher, not exactly thirty.
常見錯誤
3. treated as more important than something else, or chosen rather than something e
treated as more important than something else, or chosen rather than something else.
Good parents put their children's safety above their own comfort.
put X above Y (priority)
The basketball team values teamwork above individual glory and personal records.
value + above (preference)
Dr. Rashida places honesty above any other quality in his students.
Many older customers prefer fresh food above frozen products, even when the price is higher.
- below
treated as less important
文法句型
put X above Y
value X above Y
用法筆記
Distinguish from preposition sense 1 (physical height) and sense 2 (numerical threshold). This sense ranks values, qualities, or choices on an abstract scale of importance.
常見錯誤
4. having too good a character to do something dishonest, mean, or low.
having too good a character to do something dishonest, mean, or low.
Judge Bennett is widely seen as a person above bribery.
above + noun (a wrong action)
Even small children are not above telling a lie when they are scared.
negated form: not above + -ing
Mr. Han thought he was above cheating, but he peeked at his grandchildren's cards anyway.
A doctor is supposed to be above accepting gifts from drug companies.
- beyond
as in 'beyond reproach'; similar moral framing
- too good for
informal paraphrase
- capable of
the opposite framing — willing to do something wrong
文法句型
be above + noun
be above + -ing
用法筆記
Object is usually a wrong, low, or shameful action (lying, cheating, bribery, gossip). Frequently negated ('not above doing X') to mean the person is in fact willing to do it.
常見錯誤
5. loud or clear enough to be heard over another sound that is also happening.
loud or clear enough to be heard over another sound that is also happening.
Sven had to shout above the noise of the traffic to make herself understood.
shout above + noise noun
I could just hear the doorbell above the music coming from the speakers.
hear X above Y (competing sounds)
The conductor's voice rose above the chatter of the orchestra during rehearsal.
It was hard to sing in tune above the roar of the wind on the hilltop.
- over
very common alternative: 'shout over the noise'
文法句型
hear/shout/sing + above + sound noun
用法筆記
The object after 'above' is a sound or a noise (traffic, music, chatter, wind). Often used with verbs like 'hear', 'shout', 'sing', 'rise', and 'speak'.
常見錯誤
above — noun
1. the piece of text, or the people or things, that the writer has just listed earl
the piece of text, or the people or things, that the writer has just listed earlier in the document.
Please read the above carefully before signing the contract.
the above as a noun phrase
The above is a brief summary of the safety rules in our factory.
the above + singular verb (refers to a passage)
If you agree with the above, please tick the box and write today's date.
All passengers named in the above must report to gate twelve at six o'clock.
- the foregoing
very formal; typical in legal documents
- the preceding text
longer, more explicit alternative
- the following
the part that comes next, not before
文法句型
the above + verb
用法筆記
Mostly found in legal, business, and academic writing. Compare with adverb sense 7 ('all of the above'): the noun usage stands alone as a subject or object, often with a singular verb when referring to a passage of text.
常見錯誤
above — adjective
1. shown or written further up in this document, used to point the reader back to a
shown or written further up in this document, used to point the reader back to a fact, name, or section already given.
The above table shows the company's profits for the last five years.
above + noun (table)
Please return the form to the above address before Friday.
above address (common in letters)
The above example is taken from Chapter 2 of the textbook.
All payments must be made to the above account by the end of the month.
- aforementioned
very formal; legal and academic
- preceding
common in academic writing; can also follow a noun
- following
appearing later in the document
文法句型
the above + noun
用法筆記
Used only before a noun ('the above table'), never after a linking verb. You cannot say 'The table is above' with this meaning. Common in formal documents: letters, contracts, reports, invoices.