above*/*/*/

[əˈbʌv]

grammar word summary: Above can be: ■ a preposition: The birds were flying high above the trees. ■ an adverb: She stared up at the stars above. ■ an adjective: Please reply to the above address.

1) in a higher position at a higher level than something, or directly over it

We lived in the room above the shop.[/ex]

Her leg was broken above the knee.[/ex]

2) higher in amount or standard more than a particular number, amount, or level

The company's profits were 23% above the previous year's.[/ex]

In most subjects the students scored well above average.[/ex]

3) louder or higher than another sound louder or higher than the other sounds that you can hear

I couldn't hear his voice above all the noise.[/ex]

4) in an earlier part of writing in an earlier part of a piece of writing, or higher up on the same page

Many of the documents mentioned above are now available on the Internet.[/ex]

5) with a higher rank higher in rank, or more important than someone else

As a major, Stuart was a rank above me.[/ex]

•

above all — used for saying what is most important[/ex]

We hope you will learn new skills, meet new people, and above all enjoy yourself.[/ex]

■ Use above when something is not directly over something else, but at a higher level: on the hillside above the river. ■ Use over when something moves or stretches across the space above something else: flying over London ♦ the bridge over the river. ■ Use over when something covers something else: She put a scarf over her hair.