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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

above

/əˈbʌv/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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The two written vowels have different jobs.

The first is relaxed schwa, while the second is the stressed vowel in cup. Finish with voiced v and avoid making both syllables equally strong.

2 syllables · Stress on syllable 2

TRY SAYING
“The picture hangs above the fireplace.”

APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗

What does above mean?

preposition

  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.
More meanings (24)

preposition

  1. Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise.
  2. (figuratively) 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.
  3. Higher in rank, status, or position.
  4. In addition to; besides.
  5. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than.
  6. In preference to.
  7. Too proud to stoop to; averse to; disinclined towards.
  8. Beyond; on the other side.
  9. Upstage of.

adverb

  1. Directly overhead; vertically on top of.
  2. Higher in the same page; earlier in the order as far as writing products go.
  3. Into or from heaven; in the sky.
  4. In a higher place; upstairs; farther upstream.
  5. Higher in rank, power, or position.
  6. More in number.
  7. Above zero; above freezing.
  8. On the upper half or the dorsal surface of an animal.
  9. (archaic) In addition.

adjective

  1. Of heaven; heavenly.
  2. Being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page.

noun

  1. Heaven.
  2. Something, especially a person's name in legal documents, that appears higher on the same page or on a preceding page.
  3. Higher authority.
  4. (archaic) Betterment, raised status or condition.
Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/əˈbʌv/

Pronunciation used in the listening tip.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

From the bed-room window above their heads Bathsheba’s head and shoulders, robed in mystic white, were dimly seen extended into the air.
Thomas HardyFar from the Madding CrowdProject Gutenberg ebook #27
The thin red clouds which hung above their pointed tops began to boil and move rapidly, weaving in and out like smoke.
Willa CatherThe Song of the LarkProject Gutenberg ebook #44
More book examples (3)
The trills and trickles of song from the birds in the big tree above her seemed in perfect accord with her mood.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) MontgomeryAnne of the IslandProject Gutenberg ebook #51
As I raised my eyes toward its roof to note the height I saw far above me a faint glow of light.
Edgar Rice BurroughsThe gods of MarsProject Gutenberg ebook #64
Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.
Stephen CraneThe Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil WarProject Gutenberg ebook #73