high 1 of 3

adjective

ˈhī 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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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

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
Placing these high-voltage transmission lines high into the sky will limit the ability to bring air resources into the corridor. — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Summary OpenAI disclosed a two-week pause in reinforcement learning training after an unreleased model called Astra could not be ruled out as reaching Critical, the highest cybersecurity risk tier in its Preparedness Framework. — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
Indeed, prices for oil tankers are surging to record highs, the Financial Times said, as Middle Eastern countries buy up vessels to transfer barrels. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026 But that’s not likely to happen this week, although Orlando should see slight relief in the coming days with temperatures headed closer to an average high of just 92 degrees. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Lowe followed two batters later with a towering shot to right field that clanged high off the foul pole. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 Then, from the left-arm spinner’s next delivery, Babar danced down the pitch and, in a more classical style, launched the ball high over long off to secure the tourists’ first Test victory away from home since July 2023. — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high
  1. tall
  2. increased
  3. elevated
  4. advanced
  5. drunk
  6. expensive
  7. great
  8. top
Adjective
  • Tillery was described as being 3 feet tall and weighing around 45 pounds.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Best Splurge At 7-feet tall, this bar cabinet is both elegant and dignified, pairing a walnut finish and forest green leather with brass hardware.
    — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of tall
Adjective
  • Stocks of exchanges like CME Group and CBOE Global Markets fell in early June on the heels of the approval of domestic perps, on worries that the asset could create increased competition for existing players with traditional futures contracts.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Since then, multiple studies have found no increased risk of miscarriage or other pregnancy complications after COVID-19 vaccination.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of increased
Adjective
  • Follow it up with a walk along the High Line, an elevated outdoor park built on a historic freight rail line and covered with plants, trees, and art.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
  • An elevated reading should be confirmed with repeat measurements.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of elevated
Adjective
  • Once operational in late 2027, the facility is expected to produce about 12,000 metric tons of advanced polymer electrolyte each year, enough material for as much as 25 GWh of lithium-ion battery production.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The vaccine, in combination with Keytruda , met key goals in patients with higher-risk or advanced melanoma whose detectable cancer had been completely removed through surgery.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of advanced
Adjective
  • Habib, who joined the department in 2007, was responding to a 911 call at a Bronx catering hall in 2023 when a drunk and disorderly man resisted arrest, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In 2014, the Glaswegian photographer Dougie Wallace released a collection of photographs of incredibly drunk stag-do and hen-do parties in Blackpool.
    — George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • That matters because finding and developing domestic sources of critical minerals can be expensive, time-consuming, and uncertain.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Diesel, a crucial fuel for the world economy, is 48% more expensive than this time last year.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • Rivera-Vega is suspected of setting the fire and also had been charged with arson causing great bodiliy injury before the woman died.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Starting the election calendar in South Carolina is intended in part to give Black voters a greater voice at the outset of the nominating process.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • In Alaska, the top four vote-getters in the primary advance to the general election.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Jurors also saw a larger gunshot wound along his top right thigh and a slightly smaller wound near Shakur’s right buttock.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of top

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 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of high for Spanish Speakers

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