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
Election Day nears The stakes are high as the race Marshall was supposed to win handily is now neck-and-neck, according to recent polling. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 On Ruby’s first morning, Issey made a big pot of okayu, the Japanese-style rice porridge served in his family whenever comfort and care were the highest priority. — Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
Zuckerberg said that Threads, the newest addition to the Family of Apps, has now overtaken X (formerly Twitter) in monthly active users, while WhatsApp is seeing all-time highs for messages sent. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 Winds gusts of up to 30 mph and cloud cover will pick up through the day, but the metro will stay dry with highs back in the mid 70s. — October 22, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Adverb
For young workers hoping to break into technology or other high-paying industries, those opportunities may help offset the state’s steep living costs. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026 Prior to Lin, chief content officer Bela Bajaria was exited, along with VP of film Doug Belgrad and a series of high-ranking television executives. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 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
  • In keeping with its innovative and eco-minded bent, Ecoalf developed construction-ready textiles to cover about 60 percent of the boutique, including 16-foot-tall arches.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • For the remaining 716 feet, engineers recommended foundations reaching down 200 feet — even deeper than those of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is four times higher than the Bentley.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of tall
Adjective
  • Ketamine can cause a slew of other side effects, including delirium, amnesia, increased salivation, abnormal eye movements, high blood pressure and potentially fatal breathing problems.
    — Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The streamer has faced increased competition of late and slower growth.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of increased
Adjective
  • The blowout news from SpaceX’s Q3 earnings wasn’t the rocket and AI giant’s outstanding performance that far exceeded even the analysts’ elevated expectations, but Elon Musk’s revelation that SpaceX and Tesla are weighing a merger.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Analysts attributed elevated gas prices to ongoing fighting in the Middle East, which has damaged oil infrastructure and forced firms to take up costly means of transporting crude.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of elevated
Adjective
  • Yet, as in many speculative markets, sophisticated participants often have access to better information, stronger analytical tools and more advanced risk-management techniques than retail participants, giving them an informational edge.
    — Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • This week, Ukraine also did not receive advanced warning from partners of incoming ballistic missiles, resulting in civilian deaths, according to Ukrainian officials.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of advanced
Adjective
  • Prosecutors say Canadian visitor Mitchell Fairbarn took Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas habitat in a drunk prank and injured the bird; his lawyer says Fairbarn never intended harm.
    — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • This is where Krasner and Pollock lived for nearly 11 years, until Pollock killed himself and one of his passengers, Edith Metzger, while driving drunk, injuring his girlfriend, Ruth Kligman, too.
    — John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • They were showered with expensive clothes, spa treatments, and drugs, and given weekly allowances ranging from $150 to $200.
    — Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Why concert tickets keep getting more expensive Artists, promoters, venues, and ticketing platforms all take a cut of each ticket.
    — James LaForge, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • But this is in fact the opportunity hiding inside the greatest technological acceleration of our lifetimes.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • This scandal comes as an appalling blow to the BND, and Germany as a whole, at a time of great danger.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • About 4,400 SpaceX employees stood to become millionaires once the stock began trading, the New York Times reported, and Fortune profiled workers from top executives to welders whose equity is now worth seven figures or more.
    — Heather Occhino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress ultimately reigns supreme after years of testing, thanks to its combination of body-contouring foam layers, supportive springs, and a plush Euro top cover.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 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 23 Oct. 2026.

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