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

As Election Day kicks into high gear, traders are heading to popular platforms to put their predictions—and money—on the line in key Senate, House, and gubernatorial races across the United States. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2026

As Cross explains, this attitude kicked into high gear alongside industrialization. — Jonquilyn Hill, Vox, 1 Nov. 2026

The Los Angeles Summer Olympics are still nearly two years away, but the hype machine is already kicking into high gear. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

In the third inning, the Milwaukee superteam machine kicked into high gear. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 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