high gear

noun

1

: high sense 3b

2

: a state of intense or maximum activity

—usually used with into or in

a project in high gear

Examples of high gear in a Sentence

She shifted the car into high gear.

Recent Examples on the Web

The brand hit shelves as consumers’ obsession with protein was kicking into high gear. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026

Tie up loose ends before the football season really kicks into high gear tomorrow night. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Put her onstage to accept an award and give a speech, and her anxiety kicks into high gear. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026

Interscope signed Primus just as widespread hunger for weird, adrenalized, and mutable music kicked into high gear, and Sailing went gold. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for high gear

• adhere
• ameer
• amir
• appear
• arrear
• astir
• austere
• career
• cashier
• cohere
• compere
• emir