# above

> English word · Preposition · IPA /əˈbʌv/ · frequency rank #629

## Definitions
1. Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, said of clothing.
2. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface.
3. Farther north than.
4. Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise.
5. Higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; higher in measure, degree, volume, or pitch, etc. than; out of reach; not exposed to; not likely to be affected by; incapable of negative actions or thoughts.
6. Higher in rank, status, or position.
7. In addition to; besides.
8. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than.
9. In preference to.
10. Too proud to stoop to; averse to; disinclined towards;
11. Beyond; on the other side.
12. Upstage of.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-?
Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-?
Proto-Germanic *uz-
Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-
Old English ar-
Old English ā-
Proto-West Germanic *bi-
Proto-Indo-European *upó
Proto-Germanic *ub
Proto-Germanic *-anē
Proto-Germanic *ubanē
Proto-West Germanic *obanā
Proto-West Germanic *biobanā
Old English bufan
Old English abūfan
Middle English aboven
English above
From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from 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.
The preposition, the adjective, and the noun derive from the adverb.

## Easily confused with
- **ave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-ave)
- **ABV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-abv)
- **aloe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-aloe)
- **alone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-alone)
- **alive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-alive)
- **abuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-abuse)
- **arose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-arose)
- **adore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-adore)
- **adobe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-adobe)
- **awoke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-awoke)
- **anode** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-anode)
- **atone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-atone)
- **agave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-agave)
- **ANOVA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-anova)
- **alcove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-alcove)
- **absolve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/above-vs-absolve)
- **Abe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abe-vs-above)
- **abo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abo-vs-above)
- **able** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/able-vs-above)
- **about** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-above)

## Common misspellings (6)
`abbove`, `aboev`, `abovve`, `abvoe`, `aobve`, `baove`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/above