What is the Latin word for above, to be above?

The usual Latin words for “above, to be above” are praestō, exstō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“above, to be above” in Latin

praestōto be preferable, better, coupled with quam; to be outstanding, be exceeding in something, to excel, stand out, be super exstōto stand out or project; to be prominent or conspicuous; to exist

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

above, to be above

To be better, praestare.

To stand out from, exstare (ex aqua, etc.).

To be above doing anything, non eum esae qui aliquid faciat. You ought to be above making pleasure your chief good, temperantior esse debea, quam qui summum bonum in voluptate ponas. The water is hardly above the knees, aqua vix genua superat, (Liv.). Let all be fair and above-board, ne qua fraus, ne quis dolus adhibeatur (Cic.); nihil sitnon apertum atque simplex.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for above, to be above?: The usual Latin words for “above, to be above” are praestō, exstō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.