Above vs. Over
Above indicates a position higher than something.
- The birds flew up above the trees.
- The sun rose above the horizon.
- There is a mirror above the washbasin.
- We have rented a room above the shop.
- She is above average in intelligence.
- Your name comes above mine on the list.
Above and Over
Above and over can both mean higher than.
- The helicopter hovered above/over the building.
- The water came up above/over our knees.
Above is preferred when we want to mean that one thing is not directly over another.
- There is a small cottage above the lake. (The cottage is not directly over the lake.)
Above is also used in measurements of temperature, height, intelligence etc., where we think of a vertical scale.
- The temperature never rose above 10 degree Celsius.
Over is preferred when one thing covers and/or touches another.
- He put on a coat over his shirt.
- There was cloud over the city.
Over is also used to talk about ages and speeds, and to mean more than.
- You have to be over 18 to see that film.
- There were over 50 fifty people at the meeting.
