Above Definition

ə-bŭv

adverb

On high; overhead.

The clouds above.

American Heritage

In, at, or to a higher place; overhead; up.

Webster's New World

In heaven; heavenward.

American Heritage

In or to heaven.

Webster's New World

Upstairs.

A table in the dining room above.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
hereinbefore
upwards
hereinabove
supra
in a higher place
to a higher place
higher-up

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
below

preposition

Over or higher than.

A cool spring above the timberline.

American Heritage

Higher than; over; on top of.

Webster's New World

Superior to in rank, position, or number; greater than.

Put principles above expediency.

American Heritage

Beyond; past.

The road above the village.

Webster's New World

Beyond the level or reach of.

A shot that was heard above the music.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

An earlier part of a given text.

Refer to the above for that information.

American Heritage

Something or someone listed or mentioned above.

Webster's New World

The person or persons already referred to in a text.

The above hereby affix their signatures.

American Heritage

An earlier part of a given text.

Refer to the above for that information.

American Heritage

The person or persons already referred to in a text.

The above hereby affix their signatures.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

adjective

Appearing earlier in the same text.

Flaws in the above interpretation.

American Heritage

Placed, found, mentioned, etc. above or earlier.

As stated in the above rules.

Webster's New World

Appearing earlier in the same text.

Flaws in the above interpretation.

American Heritage

Of heaven; heavenly. [First attested around (1150 to 1350).]

Wiktionary

Being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page. [First attested in the mid 18^th century.]

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
abovestairs

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Above

Origin of Above

From Middle English above (“above”), aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan from a (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“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.

From Wiktionary
Middle English aboven from Old English abūfan a- on a–² būfan above upo in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English aboven from Old English abūfan a- on a–² būfan above upo in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
The preposition, adjective and the noun derive from the adverb.

From Wiktionary