- at or to a higher place or position than something/somebody
- The water came above our knees.
- We were flying above the clouds.
- the people in the apartment above mine
- A captain in the navy ranks above a captain in the army.
- They finished the year six places above their local rivals.
- more than something; greater in number, level or age than somebody/something
- Inflation is above 6%.
- Temperatures have been above average.
- We cannot accept children above the age of 10.
Which Word? above / overabove / over- Above and over can both be used to describe a position higher than something:
- They built a new room above/over the garage.
- They jumped over the stream.
- He put a blanket over the sleeping child.
- Above and over can also mean ‘more than’. Above is used in relation to a minimum level or a fixed point:
- 2 000 feet above sea level
- Temperatures will not rise above zero tonight.
- over 3 million copies sold
- He’s over 50.
- It costs over £100.
- We waited over 2 hours.
- of greater importance or of higher quality than somebody/something
- I rate her above most other players of her age.
- too good or too honest to do something
- She's not above lying when it suits her.
- He's above suspicion (= he is completely trusted).
- (of a sound) louder or clearer than another sound
- I couldn't hear her above the noise of the traffic.
Word OriginOld English abufan (as an adverb), from a- ‘on’ + bufan (from bi ‘by’ + ufan ‘above’).
Idioms
See above in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee above in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishabove all
- most important of all; especially
- Above all, keep in touch.
Language Bank emphasisemphasisHighlighting an important point- This case emphasizes the importance of honest communication between managers and employees.
- The study highlights how important good communication is for an organization.
- Effective communication skills are essential.
- Excellent communication skills are crucial for a negotiator.
- Good communication skills are vital to career success.
- It should be noted that this study considers only verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is not dealt with here.
- It is important to remember that non-verbal communication plays a key role in getting your message across.
- An important point to remember is that good communication is a two-way process.
- Communication is not only about the words you use but also your body language and, especially/above all, the effectiveness with which you listen.
- I would like to draw attention to the role of listening in effective communication.
- Choose your words carefully: in particular, avoid confusing and ambiguous language.
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you must learn to listen as well as to speak.
above yourself
- (disapproving) having too high an opinion of yourselfTopics Personal qualitiesc2
over and above
- in addition to something
- There are other factors over and above those we have discussed.
Check pronunciation:
above