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Above

Above is a preposition (prep) or an adverb (adv).

Above meaning ‘higher than’​

Above means ‘higher than’. We usually use it when there is no contact between people or things:

  • [a doctor asks a patient]
  • Can you raise your hand [PREP] above your head for me please? (Can you raise your hand higher than your head?)
  • The river flowed gently through the valley, while birds flew [ADV] above. It was a beautiful scene.

The opposites of above are under, below and beneath.

See also
  • Over
  • Beneath
  • Above or over?

Measuring higher​

We use above to talk about measurements and temperatures that are higher than a particular level:

  • Mexico City is 2,240 metres above sea level.
  • Temperatures above 25 degrees are rare in this part of the world.

As mentioned above: Referring back in writing​

In formal writing, we often use above not before to refer back to something we have already written about. We can use as mentioned above, as noted above, as demonstrated above, as shown above:

  • As noted above*, all employees must take part in our health and safety course.*
  • Not: As noted before …
  • As demonstrated above*, this problem is very complex.*
  • Not: As demonstrated before …

We can also say the above. We only do this when the readers understand clearly what the above refers to:

  • As the table above shows, there has been a rapid rise in greenhouse gases. (or As the above shows … the reader understands that the above refers to the table)