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What’s the Difference Between Above and Over?

Key Difference: In the English language, the words Above and Over are prepositions used to represent something that is in a higher position. Most people get confused while using these words and they use them interchangeably. The term “Above is used to refer to a higher place or a higher quantity. Whereas, Over is used to indicate when something is more than something. Today, we will see the difference between the words Above and over with proper explanations and examples.

Above: I want to fly above the clouds.
Over: Your time is over.

AbovePinOverPin
Above Vs Over

Above:

AbovePin

Defines the higher position than the rest

The word “above” can be used as a preposition or adverb. It refers to higher than something. In other words, above means extended space over or at a higher level. Let’s see an example to make it clear. Our kite disappeared above the clouds. In this statement, the kite is disappeared into the clouds by flying higher. You can use this word above when something is overhead. For example, we got the instructions from above. In this sentence, the word “above” mentioned the higher position. It defines that they got instructions from a higher position.

How Do We Spell the Word Above?

Phonetics pronunciation of the word Above is əˈbʌv. And this word sounds like the following audio.

Enunciation:

Syllables are phonological building blocks of words. It divides the words into parts that can help you read words more accurately. Let’s see how to split the word affect using syllables. Learning syllables can also help you to spell words correctly. 

  • The word “Above” has two syllables
  • It can be divided as “a-bove.”

Using “Above” in sentences:

  • I like children above all others in the world.
  • The water came above our knees in the river.
  • Good thoughts are above the good appearance.
  • Always aim a little above the target.
  • The birds fly above our heads in the park.

Over:

OverPin

More than some quantity.

The term “over” is used to represent more than something. If some object is located on the upper surface of something, then we can say that it is over the table. Let’s see an example to make it clear. The dog jumped over the fence. From this statement, we might understand that the dog jumped on the fence. Here, we come up with one more example for your reference. He traveled all over the world. From this sentence, we might understand that someone visits all the countries.

How Do We Spell the Word Over?

Phonetics pronunciation of the word Over is ˈəʊvə. And this word sounds like the following audio.

Enunciation:

Syllabification refers to the process of division of words into smaller parts. It is commonly known as syllables. With its help, you can easily read and spell the word accurately. Here, you will see how to split the word “Over” by syllables.

  • The word “Over” has two syllables
  • It can be divided as “O-ver.”

Using “Over” in sentences:

  • VLC is popular software all over the world.
  • It’s all over.
  • He jumped over the wall.
  • I am looking over his presentation.
  • What are you doing over there?

Compare: Above Vs Over

This table will show you the contradiction between the words Above and Over.

AboveOver
DefinitionIt refers to higher than something.It refers to the top of something.
SynonymGreater than, more than, over, beyond, up above, exceedingHigher than, above, on the top of, above, atop
AntonymsLess than, belowUnder, below
Parts of SpeechPreposition, adverb.Preposition, adverb, adjective.
EtymologyOld English abufan from a- ‘on’ + bufan.Old English ofer, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch over and German über, from an Indo-European word (originally a comparative of the element represented by -ove in above ) which is also the base of Latin super and Greek huper.
ExamplesWe should come out above our car.
Good health is above wealth.
Birds flying above the building.
There are three dots above the letter N.
The flower is above the bush.
When will this session be over?
Penelope jumped over the rock.
She said that the summer vacation is over.
Thanks for coming over this night.
Did you see anything over there?
Above Vs Over

Resources and References:

Resources: Cambridge Dictionary (Above, Over), Merriam-Webster (Above, Over), Collins Dictionary (Above, Over), Dictionary.com (Above, Over)
Reference: Dictionary.Cambridge.org[1], Merriam-Webster.com[2], CollinsDictionary.com[3], Dictionary.com[4].

  1. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/above
  2. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over
  3. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/above
  4. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/over
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