How do I put text over symbols?

Question

This is difficult for me to explain, but how do I put words over a symbol? For instance, I want to add words over an equal sign. Anyone know the command/syntax for that?

Also adding ^ doesn't cut it..., I want the text to appear ON TOP.

Answer 1

You can use a combination of \stackrel and \mathclap (from the mathtools package):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}

\newcommand\myeq{\stackrel{\mathclap{\normalfont\mbox{def}}}{=}}

\begin{document}

\begin{align*}
a &\myeq b \\
  &=c \\
  &= d.
\end{align*}

\end{document}

If using mathtools is not an option, you can use a \makebox of width 0pt:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\newcommand\myeq{\mathrel{\stackrel{\makebox[0pt]{\mbox{\normalfont\tiny def}}}{=}}}

\begin{document}

\begin{align*}
a &\myeq b \\
  &=c \\
  &= d.
\end{align*}

\end{document}

Even better, if amsmath has been loaded, is to use \overset instead of \stackrel; a little example using \tiny\sffamily for "def" :

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\newcommand\myeq{\mathrel{\overset{\makebox[0pt]{\mbox{\normalfont\tiny\sffamily def}}}{=}}}

\begin{document}

\begin{align*}
a &\myeq b \\
  &=c \\
  &= d.
\end{align*}

\end{document}

Inside the argument for \mbox one can use some of the font modifiers, as I did in my second and third examples.

Particularly, I don't like this kind of notation (it's not really necessary); you should consider if you really need the text above the equal sign.

Answer 2

$\stackrel{sometext}{=}$

greets