above 1 of 4

preposition

Definition of abovenext
as in atop
higher than one minute our kite was above the telephone wires; the next minute it was tangled in them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

above

2 of 4

adverb

ə-ˈbəv How to pronounce above (audio)
as in overhead
to or in a higher place we eventually got used to the planes constantly flying above

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

above

3 of 4

noun

as in sky
a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death in her dying days she was supposedly visited by an angel from above

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

above

4 of 4

adjective

as in aforementioned

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of above
Preposition
Management also said completion rates on TikTok and YouTube were significantly above industry benchmarks, suggesting the content is resonating. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 The names above the doors may still be recognizable, but reinvention is why what shoppers find inside can look completely different. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Birds chirp in the tree branches above, and a large yellow butterfly alights on a leaf before flapping away into the sloping sunshine. — Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026 Aside from the samples noted above, most watches can be expected to lose value over time. — Joe D'allegro, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
All of the above makes Queensland, Australia, a top 2023 travel destination for you. — Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Dec. 2022 All of the above could have been at play Friday night for Kaneland and junior quarterback Troyer Carlson. — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2022
Adjective
The Oilers maintain league-average or slightly above-average save percentage. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Add in an above-average Chargers defense and an offense capable of pulling ahead early, and this game has real potential to get out of hand. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for above
Recent Examples of Synonyms for above
  1. atop
  2. overhead
  3. sky
  4. aforementioned
  5. over
  6. upward
  7. heaven
  8. aforesaid
Preposition
  • Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda are on-base machines atop the Tampa order, while 23-year-old Junior Caminero (42 homers, 101 RBI) is already one of baseball’s premier run-producers.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • On the 20th floor atop the tower with panoramic city views, is an open bare space.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of atop
Adverb
  • Yellow smoke and pyrotechnics filled Folsom’s Dan Russell Rodeo Arena as deputies made their entrance, showing off armored vehicles and tactical gear while helicopters flew in formation overhead.
    — Haley Parsley October 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Planes flew overhead every few minutes, a constant reminder that the arch would stand along the approach of one of the nation's busiest airport runways.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of overhead
Noun
  • Shawn and his father found the man on the easternmost coast of their island shortly after dusk, when the sky was drained of almost all its orange light and the waves had grown dark, topped with an eerie froth.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The architecture promotes an indoor-outdoor feel, allowing in views of sea, sky, and desert while excluding distractions.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of sky
Adjective
  • Her finest moment, however, comes at the aforementioned weed seltzer party.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The moisturizing ingredients include a blend of glycerin, niacinamide, the aforementioned hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone, which serves as a silicone emollient.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of aforementioned
Preposition
  • The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that its air defenses overnight downed 646 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, occupied Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The review, done by an international team of 27 researchers, looked more broadly at whether diets high in UPFs may contribute to brain aging over time.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of over
Adverb
  • As the colonies grow, more layers of sediment are trapped and solidified beneath them by biofilms that the organisms produce, causing the whole colony to build upward in layers, like the pages in this book.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The goal is to reclaim horizontal space for actual cooking by relocating storage upward and inward.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of upward
Noun
  • This world’s heavens are lit with cosmic rays, its cityscapes otherworldly — everything seems to service an unabashed romanticism.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • And thanks to Tucson’s extraordinarily dark heavens, the Sonoran skyscape takes center stage with Peace Among the Stars.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of heaven
Adjective
  • On several occasions this writer has had the pleasure of gazing at the aforesaid state capitol building at Tallahassee … which looked, at first glance, like a garage only there was a kind of dome on top and garages usually do not have domes.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2026
  • Still and thankfully, the aforesaid incident doesn’t stop Lauren from attending a wedding with Sean in Palm Springs, which is when things take a real turn towards Lauren’s self-actualization.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of aforesaid

Phrases Containing above

Browse Nearby Words

about-turns
above
aboveboard
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Cite this Entry

“Above.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/above. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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