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Above vs Over
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Both above and over can mean ‘at a higher position’ and they are sometimes interchangeable.
- The sun rose above/over the horizon.
- The drone hovered above/over the stadium during the match.
However, in some cases, one word is more appropriate than the other.
Higher position
Above
We generally prefer above when something is at a higher position, but not directly over something else.
- The stars were shining above the city.
- They had a cabin on a hill above the forest.
Over
We prefer over when something is touching or covering something else.
- She put a blanket over the baby.
- She held the umbrella over her head to block the sunshine.
We also use over to describe movement from one side to the other of something.
- The plane flew over the mountains.
- We had to walk over the bridge to get there.
Numbers and measurements
Above
We typically use above when referring to a higher level or standard.
- His IQ is above average.
- The water level rose above 2 meters.
We also prefer above to talk about temperature and height, but NOT a person’s height.
- The temperature is above 30°C today.
- The mountain peak is above 5,000 meters.
Over
We use over when talking about a person’s height.
- He is over 6 feet tall.
- She stands over 170 cm.
We also use over to talk about age, speed, and, more generally, to mean ‘more than’.
- She is over 30 but looks much younger.
- He was driving over 100 km/h on the highway.
- The company has over 1,000 employees worldwide.
Take this quiz to check what you know!
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Explanation
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