Above | Meaning, Part of Speech & Phrases
The word above typically functions as a preposition or an adverb indicating a position or location that is “higher” than something else—physically, numerically, hierarchically, or figuratively.
She looked up at the grey clouds above.
You’re only allowed in if you’re 21 or above.
The position above mine has become vacant, so I’m going to apply for it.
Please see above for more details.
This is because he demands loyalty above all else.
Above meaning
Above generally works in combination with the other elements of a sentence to mean that one thing is “over,” “higher,” or “more than” something else (e.g., “She lives in the apartment above mine,” “Should I put the picture above the text?,” “The salary is above average for a new graduate”).
Is above a preposition?
The word above typically functions as a preposition meaning “in a higher position or location than,” “over,” or “more than.” It is often classified as a preposition of place.
We flew the drone above the house to inspect the roof.
Is a colonel above the rank of major?
Temperatures above 100 degrees are not uncommon there in summer.
Is above an adverb?
When above is not introducing a noun phrase (i.e., it doesn’t have a prepositional object), then its part of speech is typically categorized as an adverb.
| Above as an adverb | Above as a preposition |
|---|---|
| The plates are here; the cups go above. | The cups go above the plates. |
| We flew a drone above to inspect the damaged area of the roof. | We flew a drone above the damaged area of the roof. |
| Temperatures can reach 100 degrees and above. | Temperatures can reach above 100 degrees. |
What part of speech is above?
The part of speech of the word above is typically a preposition or an adverb.
Exceptions include “above” when it’s used in contexts like “Please refer to the above list,” where it is an adjective describing something as “in a location earlier in this document.”
Above board meaning
Above board (two words) is a British English spelling of aboveboard, an adjective meaning “legal” or “honest” or an adverb meaning “in a legal or honest way.” It is also sometimes hyphenated in British English (above-board).
We did everything above board and are cooperating with the police investigation. [Adverb]
All of the above meaning
You use the phrase all of the above to refer to a list of items that has already been mentioned.
Person B: I think it’s all of the above.
Is the answer “apple,” “banana,” “orange,” or “all of the above”?
Above the fray meaning
You are above the fray when there is a disagreement, argument, or difficult situation, but you decide not to take part in it.
Rising above the fray and staying neutral was the diplomatic thing to do.
Going above and beyond meaning
You are going above and beyond when you make an effort or contribution that is significantly greater than what is normally expected.
I accept this award on behalf of all the teachers at my school, who go above and beyond for their students every single day.
You could make a list of examples of when you went above and beyond in your work and include the most relevant ones in your cover letter.
Frequently asked questions about above
- What does above reproach mean?
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If something is above reproach, it means that there is no reason to criticize it, especially in terms of moral correctness (e.g., “A judge’s conduct must be above reproach,” “The journal stated that the peer-reviewed article is above reproach and will not be retracted”).
QuillBot’s Paraphraser will help you to find alternatives for “above reproach” that fit that context of your text.
- What does above the fold mean?
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If a newspaper article is above the fold, it means that it is on the top half of the front page and therefore in the most important place (e.g., “The editor wants to run the article above the fold”).
The term “above the fold” is also used to refer to the upper part of a webpage or email that is visible without the user having to scroll down (e.g., “The most important links on the homepage should all be above the fold”).
If you’re ever writing something that’s above the fold, the QuillBot Grammar Checker will help you ensure that it’s error free.
