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The words lofty<\/em><\/a> and tall<\/em><\/a> are common synonyms of high<\/em>. While all three words mean \"above the average in height,\" high<\/em> implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.<\/p>

\/\/ a high<\/em> hill<\/p>

\/\/ a high<\/em> ceiling<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'lofty' take the place of 'high'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words lofty<\/em><\/a> and high<\/em> have much in common, lofty<\/em> suggests great or imposing altitude.<\/p>

\/\/ lofty<\/em> mountain peaks<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'tall' be a better fit than 'high'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words tall<\/em><\/a> and high<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but tall<\/em> applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.<\/p>

\/\/ a tall<\/em> thin man<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the adjective 'high' contrast with its synonyms?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words lofty<\/em><\/a> and tall<\/em><\/a> are common synonyms of high<\/em>. While all three words mean \"above the average in height,\" high<\/em> implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.<\/p>

\/\/ a high<\/em> hill<\/p>

\/\/ a high<\/em> ceiling<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'lofty' take the place of 'high'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words lofty<\/em><\/a> and high<\/em> have much in common, lofty<\/em> suggests great or imposing altitude.<\/p>

\/\/ lofty<\/em> mountain peaks<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'tall' be a better fit than 'high'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words tall<\/em><\/a> and high<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but tall<\/em> applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.<\/p>

\/\/ a tall<\/em> thin man<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the adjective 'high' contrast with its synonyms?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words lofty<\/em><\/a> and tall<\/em><\/a> are common synonyms of high<\/em>. While all three words mean \"above the average in height,\" high<\/em> implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.<\/p>

\/\/ a high<\/em> hill<\/p>

\/\/ a high<\/em> ceiling<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'lofty' take the place of 'high'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words lofty<\/em><\/a> and high<\/em> have much in common, lofty<\/em> suggests great or imposing altitude.<\/p>

\/\/ lofty<\/em> mountain peaks<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'tall' be a better fit than 'high'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words tall<\/em><\/a> and high<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but tall<\/em> applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.<\/p>

\/\/ a tall<\/em> thin man<\/p>" } } ] }

high 1 of 3

adjective

ˈhÄ« How to pronounce high (audio)
Definition of highnext
1
as in tall
extending to a great distance upward as the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest is mountaineering's holy grail

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2
as in increased
being at a higher level than average gasoline prices are high right now a high fever people with high incomes

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3
as in elevated
located at a greater height than average or usual an eagle's nest high on the cliff an old house with high ceilings

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4
as in higher
being far along in development a cabal of self-proclaimed Luddites who argued that the evils of high technology far outweighed its virtues

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5
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol not only has he never been high, he has never even tasted alcohol

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6
as in expensive
commanding a large price the concert tickets weren't cheap—you don't even want to know how high they were

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7
as in great
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature she had the highest intentions, but her "help" turned out to be a disaster

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8
as in top
highest in rank or authority high government officials lord high executioner

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9
as in ripped
being under the influence of a recreational drug he's clean now, but when he was younger he used to get high every day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

high

2 of 3

noun

1
as in ecstasy
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion it took days for the high of the World Series win to wear off

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2
as in sky
the expanse of air surrounding the earth V formations of honking geese on high mean winter will soon be here

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high

3 of 3

adverb

as in large
in a luxurious manner after he had won the lottery Philip lived pretty high—until all the money was gone

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective high contrast with its synonyms?

The words lofty and tall are common synonyms of high. While all three words mean "above the average in height," high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill
a high ceiling

In what contexts can lofty take the place of high?

Although the words lofty and high have much in common, lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

When might tall be a better fit than high?

The words tall and high can be used in similar contexts, but tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

How does the adjective high contrast with its synonyms?

The words lofty and tall are common synonyms of high. While all three words mean "above the average in height," high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill
a high ceiling

In what contexts can lofty take the place of high?

Although the words lofty and high have much in common, lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

When might tall be a better fit than high?

The words tall and high can be used in similar contexts, but tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

How does the adjective high contrast with its synonyms?

The words lofty and tall are common synonyms of high. While all three words mean "above the average in height," high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill
a high ceiling

In what contexts can lofty take the place of high?

Although the words lofty and high have much in common, lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

When might tall be a better fit than high?

The words tall and high can be used in similar contexts, but tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of high
Adjective
Worries have gotten so high that traders have canceled nearly all their bets that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates this year, according to data from CME Group. —Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026 The town says water use is running about 30% higher than normal for this time of year, driven largely by early irrigation. —Jamie Leary, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
The highs this time of the year should be in the 70s, but Sunday hit 95 degrees, breaking the previous record that was set at 93 in 1995. —Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026 Across the Great Plains, meanwhile, highs will range from the 70s into the 90s. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
Carr, a high-jumping, 6-foot-6 junior forward, reached double-digit rebounds for the first time and came within one point of his best scoring game. —CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026 The gondola doors slide shut at the new East Village base of Deer Valley, and within seconds we're lifted high above the mountainside. —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high
  1. tall
  2. increased
  3. elevated
  4. drunk
  5. expensive
  6. great
  7. top
  8. ripped
Adjective
  • Plan to arrive with a crowd—the homes can easily sleep 10—and enjoy the unusually spacious rooms and extra tall ceilings.
    — Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Head-on views of the 6,545-foot-tall Watchman Spire jutting up from the valley floor, the monolithic Towers of the Virgin, and lower Zion Canyon greet you from the summit.
    — Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of tall
Adjective
  • This move comes as the brand has faced increased competition from Anthropic’s Claude AI tools.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
  • The higher the number, the more increased long-term risk of heart attack or stroke.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of increased
Adjective
  • Avoid tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and elevated oil prices continue to weigh on global stock markets.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of elevated
Adjective
  • Abath, who also has died, was a beer-drinking, pot-smoking music school dropout and rock ‘n roll musician who occasionally reported to work drunk.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Timberlake was arrested in June 2024 after police suspected him of driving drunk.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • This will overcome the main challenge of firing expensive missile interceptors to knock out these threats; the economics don’t add up.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
  • The newest residents of some of the city’s most expensive real estate pitched their shelters in the shadow of the port where, in 2020, a massive blast rocked most of Beirut, killing hundreds and destroying a chunk of the capital.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • That said, there are some great hotel options, as well.
    — Jenna Curcio, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The more complex the problems become, the greater the demands on those external resources, while those resources themselves — due to the increasing specialization of the nature of the assignments — become less available, less comprehensive, and less sufficient overall.
    — Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • The Heat, which has needed to qualify for the playoffs through the NBA’s play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons, needs to finish among the East’s top six teams to clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The top vote-getter will be honored at an April 15 ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield.
    — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of top
Adjective
  • Brushes, pens and pencils lie next to the ripped cuffs of cotton workshirts, and drops of blue and white paint are splattered on the floor, extending the artwork beyond the wall.
    — Leigh-Ann Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2026
  • The dirt didn’t look different to her: no holes, no ripped piece of lawn, but was there something growing in the mud glop?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Definition of ripped

Phrases Containing high

Browse Nearby Words

higgledy-piggledy
high
high and dry
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Cite this Entry

“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of high for Spanish Speakers

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