What does “above” mean?
- 1
prepositionin or to a higher position than something
There is a shelf above the desk.
- 2
prepositionmore than a number, amount or level
Temperatures rose above 35 degrees.
- 3
adverbearlier on the same page or in the same text
See the chart above for details.
Above at a glance
- Part of speech
- preposition & adverb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /əˈbʌv/ · uh-BUV
How to use “above” correctly
“Above” means higher but not touching; “on” means touching the surface: “a lamp above the table”, “a cup on the table”.
Common phrases with “above”
- above average
- above all
- the above example
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- below
- under
“above” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- around prepositionA1on every side of something, or in a circle
- behind prepositionA1at or toward the back of something
- between prepositionA1in the space that separates two things or people
- inside prepositionA1in or into a building, container or space
- near prepositionA1a short distance from something
- over prepositionA1above or across something
- under prepositionA1below or lower than something
- across prepositionA2from one side to the other side of something