one step, one level
彼は並みの大学生より一段上だ。
He's a cut above the average college student.
それは去年のと比べて一段の進歩だ。
It's a significant improvement over last year's.
前よりまた一段ときれいになったね。
You've gotten even prettier than before.
彼は近所の人々より社会的に一段上だ。
He is socially a cut above the people in his neighborhood.