height

noun

ˈhīt 

nonstandard

ˈhītth 

1

a

: the part that rises or extends upward the greatest distance : the highest part : summit

reached the height of the mountain

b

: the most advanced or extreme point of something : zenith

at the height of his powers

during the height of the violence

2

a

: the distance from the bottom to the top of someone or something standing upright

estimating the height of a tree

a woman of average height

six feet in height

b

: the extent of elevation above a level

The land reaches a height of 600 feet above sea level.

3

: the condition of being tall or extending upward a great distance

He was surprised by her height.

other ball players who have more height

4

a

: an extent of land rising to a considerable degree above the surrounding country

b

: a point or position that is advanced or extreme or that extends upward a great distance : a high point or position

afraid of heights

the heights and depths of love

5

obsolete : an advanced social rank

Synonyms

• zenith
• pinnacle
• top
• peak
• culmination
• apex

Choose the Right Synonym for height

height, altitude, elevation mean vertical distance either between the top and bottom of something or between a base and something above it.

height refers to something measured vertically whether high or low.

a wall two meters in height

altitude and elevation apply to height as measured by angular measurement or atmospheric pressure; altitude is preferable when referring to vertical distance above the surface of the earth or above sea level; elevation is used especially in reference to vertical height on land.

fly at an altitude of 10,000 meters

Denver is a city with a high elevation

Examples of height in a Sentence

What's the height of the building?

These bushes grow to heights of up to five feet.

a woman of average height

We were measured for height and weight.

The ride has a height requirement. You have to be four feet tall to ride.

I was surprised by his height.

The land reaches a height of 600 feet above sea level.

Recent Examples on the Web

That said, every year that goes by, their anxiety reaches new heights. —R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025

Bardo later recalled Schaeffer writing back, and his obsession reached new heights. —Alex Gurley, People.com, 18 July 2025

The feud between President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reached new heights this week. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 18 July 2025

Baumgartner helped popularize the extreme sport of BASE jumping, parachuting from heights both natural and man-made including the Christ The Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Empire State Building in New York City. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 18 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English heighthe, from Old English hīehthu; akin to Old High German hōhida height, Old English hēah high

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing height

• at full height
• at the height of
• height to paper
• in height
• slant height
• the height of
• to (one's) full height
• x-height

Rhymes for height

• bight
• bite
• blight
• byte
• cite
• dight
• fight
• fite
• flight
• fright
• hight
• kite

Kids Definition

height

noun

ˈhīt  ˈhītth 

1

a

: the highest part or point : summit, climax

b

: the most advanced or extreme point

the height of stupidity

2

a

: the distance from bottom to top of something

b

: the distance above a level

3

: the condition of being tall or high

4

a

: a landmass rising above the surrounding country

b

: a high point or position

Medical Definition

height

noun

ˈhīt  ˈhītth 

: the distance from the bottom to the top of something standing upright

especially : the distance from the lowest to the highest point of an animal body especially of a human being in a natural standing position or from the lowest point to an arbitrarily chosen upper point

a man six feet in height

a dog two feet in height at the shoulder