What's the difference between above and aloft?

Above


Definition:

  • (prep.) In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; -- opposed to below or beneath.
  • (prep.) Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach.
  • (prep.) Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above, adv., 4.)
  • (adv.) In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the clouds above.
  • (adv.) Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a foregoing page.
  • (adv.) Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court above.
  • (adv.) More than; as, above five hundred were present.

Example Sentences:

Aloft


Definition:

  • (adv.) On high; in the air; high above the ground.
  • (adv.) In the top; at the mast head, or on the higher yards or rigging; overhead; hence (Fig. and Colloq.), in or to heaven.
  • (prep.) Above; on top of.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) There is a picture, drawn by Polish cartoonist Marek Raczkowski: a crowd of people demonstrating in the street, carrying aloft a big banner that simply reads "FUUUCK!''.
  • (2) Then, in English, a simple statement that has come to define a Japanese summer of public discontent, the likes of which it has not seen in a generation: “This is what democracy looks like!” Amid the trade union and civic group banners were colourful, bilingual placards held aloft by a new generation of activists who have assumed the mantle of mass protest as Japan braces for the biggest shift in its defence posture for 70 years.
  • (3) In his budget speech this year, Osborne said he wanted "the words 'Made in Britain', 'Created in Britain', 'Designed in Britain', 'Invented in Britain' to drive our nation forward – a Britain carried aloft by the march of the makers."
  • (4) A combination of photos show Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo as it detached from the jet aeroplane that carried it aloft and then broke apart.
  • (5) A young man holds his hands aloft in victory as he is frog-marched out the door by bouncers.
  • (6) One Twitter account with 145,200 followers which is linked to the loose-knit group on Tuesday tweeted a picture of a man wearing an Anonymous mask, holding aloft a "Free Assange" poster outside what appeared to be the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
  • (7) Some of the rioters at the embassy on Tuesday held aloft pictures of the Quds Force commander, Qassem Suleimani, around whom a personality cult is developing.
  • (8) However, some birds have unexplained abilities to sense the wind while aloft.
  • (9) *applause* February 21, 2014 Reuters has more from the scene: After another open coffin was held aloft by the crowd, a protester wearing battle-fatigues leapt up to the microphone and triggered roars of approval as he declared: “By tomorrow we want him (Yanukovich) out!” Referring to the three opposition leaders, including boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko, who were standing behind him, the man said: “My comrade was shot and our leaders shake the hand of a murderer.
  • (10) This video of Christie yelling at a skeptic on the Jersey boardwalk while holding aloft an ice cream cone spoke to Christie's remarkable inability (particularly for a politician) to control his temper.
  • (11) Inna smiles, grabs her hand, and holds the injured limb aloft.
  • (12) It was answered moments after the ticker-tape fell from the roof and the gleaming trophy was raised aloft, when Leonard’s name was announced and the crowd had yet another reason to go wild.
  • (13) Suddenly, there are screams from the dancefloor with camera phones held aloft creating a mirrorball effect.
  • (14) Just as Francis has shunned the grandeur of the papal apartment in favour of a simple room, so John Paul spoke in the first person, declined to be borne aloft on the papal throne (until he was pressured into it), refused a papal coronation in favour of a more low-key investiture, and sent the clearest of signals that he was a moderniser.
  • (15) It was the numbers and sheer youth of these peaceful demonstrators, umbrellas held aloft to ward off teargas and pepper spray, as they confronted – peacefully, tidily and very, very politely – the wrath of Beijing.
  • (16) Senator Hanson-Young, if in years gone by, you had held aloft a photograph of every boat that penetrated Australian borders there would not have been enough question times in the six years of the Labor government for all the individual boats that penetrated Australia’s borders,” replied the attorney general, George Brandis .
  • (17) Many hoisted small solid-green Libyan flags while others held aloft Scottish flags.
  • (18) It will require ditching the old-fashioned faith in “solidarity” with a miserable underclass that deserves to be borne aloft on the market-level salaried shoulders of society’s strongest.
  • (19) Henry says of "Staneges" that it is one of the wonders of the country, but that "no one can conceive … how such great stones have been so raised aloft, or why they were built there."
  • (20) Last week, as she has done every time I have been at her house before, she finished getting ready for the day by standing up in front of the big mirror in the living room, holding a huge can of Elnett hairspray aloft and, aiming it at her newly tonged curls, asking me about my love life.