above
/əˈbʌv/ (bre, ipa) · [əbˈʌv] /əˈbʌv/ (ame, ipa) · [əbˈʌv] /ə-ˈbəv/ (ame, mw)
above — preposition
1. in a spot that sits over something, with empty space or distance between the two
in a spot that sits over something, with empty space or distance between the two.
A small wooden shelf hung on the wall above Gabriel's writing desk.
static location: above + [object]
The plane flew above the thick clouds for most of the flight to Seoul.
motion through space: above + [layer]
Hari lifted the heavy box above his head and slid it onto the top shelf.
The family in the apartment above ours plays loud music every Saturday night.
Cold seawater rose above Kenji's knees as he waded out from the rocky shore.
文法句型
above + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Opposite of 'below'. Implies the two things are not touching; for direct contact, use 'on' or 'on top of'.
常見錯誤
2. going past a particular number, age, level, or measurement on a scale.
going past a particular number, age, level, or measurement on a scale.
Inflation in Brazil climbed above six percent for the third month in a row.
above + [percentage]
The roller-coaster line near the gate is only for children above the age of ten.
above + the age of [number]
Daytime temperatures stayed above thirty degrees all week during the heatwave in Athens.
Rents in this neighbourhood have risen well above the city average since the new train line opened.
Léa's exam score was a few points above the pass mark, so she squeezed into the programme.
文法句型
above + [number / amount / level]
用法筆記
Used with numbers, ages, temperatures, prices, percentages. Distinguish from sense 1: this one is about quantity on a scale, not physical height.
常見錯誤
3. ranked higher in value, importance, or quality than someone or something else.
ranked higher in value, importance, or quality than someone or something else.
Most football fans in Buenos Aires rate Messi above every other player of his generation.
rate + [person] above + [comparison group]
Defne's parents always put family loyalty above career success when giving her advice.
put + [value] above + [other value]
Most critics in London rank Rania's debut novel above her earlier prize-winning short stories.
Many readers place safety above speed when shopping for a new family car.
- below
of lower importance or value
文法句型
rate / rank / put / place X above Y
用法筆記
Pairs with ranking verbs: rate, rank, put, place, value. Distinct from sense 2: here the comparison is about priority or quality, not numbers.
常見錯誤
4. having such strong morals that the bad behaviour or doubt being mentioned would
having such strong morals that the bad behaviour or doubt being mentioned would never apply.
The new mayor of Lakan's town is widely seen as above suspicion in money matters.
above suspicion — fixed phrase
Apinya is not above bending the truth when a big sale depends on it.
not above + -ing (ironic understatement)
No senior official should be above the law, regardless of who their friends are.
Even the most respected judges are not above criticism when their rulings clash with public values.
- beyond
interchangeable in 'beyond suspicion / beyond reproach'
- capable of
the opposite framing: capable of the bad behaviour being doubted
文法句型
be above + [noun / -ing]
be above suspicion / reproach
用法筆記
Often appears with the fixed pairs 'above suspicion', 'above the law', 'above reproach', or in the ironic negative 'not above [doing something]', which actually means the person sometimes does that bad thing.
常見錯誤
5. added on top of the things already counted, usually as something extra.
added on top of the things already counted, usually as something extra.
The bonus was paid over and above Ife's normal monthly salary at the end of the year.
over and above + [baseline payment]
The committee found several problems over and above the ones already raised in the report.
over and above + [existing set]
Over and above the registration fee, every student must also pay for the textbooks.
Christopher took on three new responsibilities over and above his regular teaching duties this term.
- in addition to
the most everyday paraphrase; neutral register
- on top of
informal alternative; 'on top of his salary, he got a bonus'
- besides
shorter, common in spoken English
文法句型
over and above + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Almost always appears as the fixed phrase 'over and above'. Plain 'above' on its own rarely carries this 'in addition to' reading in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
above — adverb
1. at or to a point that sits higher up, without naming what it sits higher than.
at or to a point that sits higher up, without naming what it sits higher than.
A small round mirror hung above on the bathroom wall, just out of the children's reach.
static placement: hung above
Gabriela waved the bright yellow letter excitedly above her head so her brother could see it.
above + [body part possessive]
The seagulls circled above while the children chased the waves on Brighton beach.
Élise rented a sunny one-bedroom flat above on the fourth floor of an old Paris building.
- below
lower than the reference point
文法句型
[verb] + above
[noun] + above
用法筆記
Used without an object; the reference point ('higher than what') is understood from context. Frequently means 'in the sky overhead' when nothing else is specified.
常見錯誤
2. past a particular number, age, or level on a scale, without naming what comes af
past a particular number, age, or level on a scale, without naming what comes after.
The label on the toy box clearly says it is suitable for children aged three and above.
[number] and above — open-ended scale
Winter temperatures in this mountain town almost never rise above zero between November and March.
rise above + [threshold]
Members earning fifty thousand and above are charged a small annual service fee.
Romi's running pace stayed at twelve kilometres an hour and above for the whole race.
文法句型
[number] and above
[verb] + above
用法筆記
Common in the open-ended phrase '[number] and above', meaning 'this number plus everything higher'. Distinguish from sense 1: this one is about quantity, not physical height.
常見錯誤
3. at a higher level of authority, ranking, or development than someone or somethin
at a higher level of authority, ranking, or development than someone or something else.
Wren is a grade above on the swim team, so her training sessions start an hour earlier.
a grade / class / level above
Every decision goes through the manager above before the team can spend any money.
the [role] above — chain of authority
The runner from Kenya finished a clear class above the rest of the field in the marathon.
Lisa applied for the role one step above her current position at the bank.
- below
lower in the same hierarchy
文法句型
the [noun] above
用法筆記
Often follows a noun (the level / grade / class / floor above) to point upward in a hierarchy. Distinguish from sense 1: the comparison here is about authority, skill, or rank, not physical height.
常見錯誤
4. earlier on the same page, or on a page that comes before this one.
earlier on the same page, or on a page that comes before this one.
Please send the completed forms to the address given above by Friday at the latest.
[noun] given above — common form-filling phrase
As mentioned above, the new policy will only apply to staff hired after January.
as mentioned above — fixed academic phrase
The results shown above confirm that the medicine works better when taken with food.
Refer to the diagram above for the full list of bird species observed near the lake.
- previously
neutral synonym; works in spoken English too
- earlier
very common alternative; less formal
- below
later in the same document
文法句型
as / mentioned / shown / discussed + above
用法筆記
Confined to written or formal contexts — letters, reports, textbooks, contracts. Pairs with 'as mentioned / shown / stated / discussed / described above'.
常見錯誤
5. as the most important point in a list, used to make one item stand out.
as the most important point in a list, used to make one item stand out.
Above all, the coach wanted his players to enjoy the final game of the season.
above all + [main wish]
Bring your passport, your tickets and, above all, a good book for the long flight home.
list ending in above all + [key item]
The volunteers cooked, cleaned, and above all listened patiently to the elderly residents.
Above all else, Liam hoped his parents would be proud of his graduation results.
- most importantly
the most direct paraphrase; slightly more formal
- especially
less emphatic; highlights one item without ranking it highest
文法句型
above all + ,
用法筆記
Appears almost only in the fixed phrase 'above all', typically at the start of a clause or just before the most important item in a list. See the idiom entry for fuller treatment.
常見錯誤
6. the whole set of people, items, or choices that have just been listed earlier.
the whole set of people, items, or choices that have just been listed earlier.
Once Kasia finishes all of the above, the team can finally start work on the next project.
all of the above — referring back to a task list
Tick a box marked 'none of the above' if no answer fits your situation exactly.
none of the above — survey / quiz phrasing
Minho's correct answer turned out to be 'all of the above' on the final question of the exam.
Any of the above would make a thoughtful birthday present for someone who loves cooking.
- the aforementioned
very formal alternative; common in legal or academic writing
文法句型
all / any / none of the above
用法筆記
Functions almost like a noun. Used in the fixed quantifier patterns 'all / any / none of the above'. Distinguish from sense 4: here 'the above' bundles the listed items into one referent.
常見錯誤
7. thinking of yourself as too important or skilled to do a particular kind of task
thinking of yourself as too important or skilled to do a particular kind of task.
The new project leader is not above making coffee for the team when everyone is busy.
not above + -ing (modest leader)
Even senior doctors at this small clinic are never above mopping a floor in an emergency.
above + -ing (taking on humble tasks)
Some players think they are above basic warm-up drills once they reach the national squad.
Yael's grandmother was never above washing dishes in the family restaurant, even at eighty years old.
- too good for
the everyday paraphrase; carries the same critical tone
- beneath
matching opposite framing: 'she thought the task was beneath her'
文法句型
be above + [noun]
用法筆記
Often appears in the negative as 'not above [doing something]', which is praise — it means the person is humble enough to do that task. The bare positive 'be above [doing something]' usually carries criticism.
常見錯誤
above — adjective
- abovepositive
- more abovecomparative
- most abovesuperlative
1. set higher up within this very text, pointing back to something the reader has a
set higher up within this very text, pointing back to something the reader has already encountered.
Please write to the above address if you would like a refund for the broken kettle.
the above + [noun] — refers to text shown earlier
The above example shows clearly why the company's old policy needed to change.
the above example — academic / report register
Sign and date this form below the above declaration to confirm that everything is correct.
All staff named in the above list will receive their new ID badges on Monday morning.
- aforementioned
very formal; common in legal documents
- preceding
neutral formal alternative
- following
matching opposite — placed later in the text
文法句型
the above + [noun]
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive). Confined to formal writing — letters, reports, contracts, academic papers. Pairs with nouns like 'address', 'example', 'list', 'declaration', 'statement'.
常見錯誤
above — noun
1. the text, list, or information that has been written earlier in the same documen
the text, list, or information that has been written earlier in the same document.
Please read the above carefully before signing the rental agreement at the bottom of the page.
read / consider + the above
The above explains why the museum closes early on the first Monday of each month.
the above + [reporting verb]
If the above is unclear, contact our office by phone during normal working hours.
Notwithstanding the above, the company may cancel any order at its discretion.
- the foregoing
very formal legal alternative
- the preceding text
more explicit and slightly less formal
- the below
matching opposite, used in formal writing
文法句型
the above
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the'. Functions as a noun phrase referring back to a block of text the reader has just read. Mostly in formal letters, contracts, and academic prose.
常見錯誤
2. a person or group with more power than oneself in an organisation.
a person or group with more power than oneself in an organisation.
The order to cancel the project came from above, and no one on the team could change it.
from above — orders from senior management
Junior officers must wait for instructions from above before taking any major action.
instructions from above — military / corporate register
Christopher complained that every small budget request had to be approved from above.
Pressure from above forced Andrei to drop the investigation against the famous singer.
- the higher-ups
informal spoken alternative; same meaning
- top brass
very informal; usually about military or police leadership
文法句型
orders / instructions + from above
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'from above', meaning 'from senior management' or 'from a higher authority'. Rarely used as a standalone noun without 'from'.
常見錯誤
3. the place where God, the gods, or spirits are believed to live, used in religiou
the place where God, the gods, or spirits are believed to live, used in religious or poetic language.
The old priest taught the children that every blessing in life flows from above.
from above — divine source
At the village funeral, Devika sang an old hymn about souls travelling home to above.
travelling to above — religious destination framing
Sailors in the old folk tale prayed to the powers above for safe passage through the storm.
Hassan whispered a quiet thanks to the heavens above when his sick mother began to recover.
- heaven
the everyday word for the same idea; no formality marker
- the heavens
literary; also means the sky
- below
in religious writing, often refers to hell or the underworld
文法句型
from above
the [noun] above
用法筆記
Religious or literary use. Often appears in fixed phrases like 'from above' (when the speaker means heaven, not management), 'help from above', or 'the powers above'. Distinguish from sense 2 by topic and register.