above

abovepreposition

Above shows a higher position, a higher amount or level, or something too honest or too good to be affected by something bad.

1. higher thanat or to a higher position than something

   • A lamp hung above the table.
   • Their apartment is on the floor above ours.
   • Raise your hand above your head.
   • The plane flew above the clouds.

   Collocations

   phrase above sea level

   Antonyms below

   Compare over (above is a fixed position higher than something; over can also mean directly over or covering something)

2. more thanmore than an amount or a level

   • Temperatures rose above freezing today.
   • Applicants need a score above seventy percent.
   • She was promoted above two colleagues with more experience.

   Collocations

   phrase above average

   Antonyms below

3. too good fortoo honest, too proud, or too important to be affected by something bad

   • No one is above the law.
   • Her honesty is above question.
   • He would never lie to us; he's above that.

   Collocations

   phrase above the law, above suspicion, above criticism