What does "above" mean?
Heaven.
Above
/əˈbʌv/ adj, adv, noun, prep
adj, adv, noun, prep ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Heaven.
- Grammar: above is listed as adj, adv, noun, prep.
- Nearest alternatives: a cut above, above all, above and beyond, abovestairs.
- Useful contrasts: underfoot, below, down.
- Usage evidence: Excuse me; allow me to point out three errors in the above article.
How to use "above"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "above" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "above" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "above" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "above" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "above" is acting as adj, adv, noun, prep in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "a cut above" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "above", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Heaven. uncountable
"A brother from another mother, sent from the above."
- 2 an earlier section of a written text wordnet
- 3 Something, especially a person's name in legal documents, that appears higher on the same page or on a preceding page. uncountable
- 4 Higher authority. uncountable
- 5 betterment, raised status or condition. archaic, uncountable
"Withal they saw of him that he had no doubt but that they should come to their above on the morrow,"
Adjective
- 1 Of heaven; heavenly. not-comparable
- 2 Being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 appearing earlier in the same text wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Directly overhead; vertically on top of. not-comparable
"Of all the transitions brought about on the Earth’s surface by temperature change, the melting of ice into water is the starkest. It is binary. And for the land beneath, the air above and the life around, it changes everything."
- 2 Higher in the same page; earlier in the order as far as writing products go. not-comparable
"Nobody has lived in it since the summer of 1879, and it is fast going to pieces. For some three years before the date mentioned above, it was occupied by the family of Charles May"
- 3 Into or from heaven; in the sky. not-comparable
"He’s in a better place now, floating free as the clouds above."
- 4 In a higher place; upstairs; farther upstream. not-comparable
- 5 Higher in rank, power, or position. not-comparable
"He appealed to the court above."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 In addition. archaic, not-comparable
- 7 More in number. not-comparable
- 8 Above zero; above freezing. not-comparable
"It was a cold day at only 5 above."
- 9 On the upper half or the dorsal surface of an animal. not-comparable
"The sparrow I saw was rufous above and off-white below."
Adverb
- 1 (in writing) at an earlier place wordnet
- 2 in or to a place that is higher wordnet
Preposition
- 1 Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, said of clothing.
"He always put his coat on above his sweater."
- 2 In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface.
"And God said, Let the waters bring foorth aboundantly the mouing creature that hath life, and foule that may flie aboue the earth in the open firmament of heauen."
- 3 Farther north than.
"Idaho is above Utah."
- 4 Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise.
- 5 Higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; higher in measure, degree, volume, or pitch, etc. than; out of reach; not exposed to; not likely to be affected by; incapable of negative actions or thoughts. figuratively
"to cut above average"
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 Higher in rank, status, or position.
"to stand head and shoulders above the rest"
- 7 In addition to; besides. Scotland
"above and beyond the call of duty"
- 8 Surpassing in number or quantity; more than.
"That amount is way above our asking price."
- 9 In preference to.
- 10 Too proud to stoop to; averse to; disinclined towards;
"The owner was above taking more than a token salary."
- 11 Beyond; on the other side.
- 12 Upstage of.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Excuse me; allow me to point out three errors in the above article."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "above"?
Common synonyms include: a cut above, above all, above and beyond, abovestairs, additionally, aforementioned.
How do you use "above" in a sentence?
Excuse me; allow me to point out three errors in the above article.
How do you pronounce "above"?
Pronounced /əˈbʌv/.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-? Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-? Proto-Germanic *uz- Proto-West Germanic *uʀ- Old English ar- Old English ā- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Germanic *ub Proto-Germanic *-anē Proto-Germanic *ubanē Proto-West Germanic *obanā Proto-West Germanic *biobanā Old English bufan Old English abūfan Middle English aboven English above From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from above”), Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene) from bī (“by”) + ufan (“over”); also cognate with Danish oven, Dutch boven, German oben, Swedish ovan, Old Saxon oƀan, Old High German obana. The preposition, the adjective, and the noun derive from the adverb.