1
a
: rising or extending upward a great distance : taller than average, usual, or expected
a high wall
a high fly ball
b
: having a specified height or elevation : tall
six feet high
—often used in combinationsky-high
waist-high
c
: situated or passing above the normal level, surface, base of measurement, or elevation
the high desert
2
a(1)
: advanced toward the acme or culmination
high summer
(2)
: advanced toward the most active or culminating period
on the Riviera during high season
(3)
: constituting the late, most fully developed, or most creative stage or period
high Gothic
(4)
: advanced in complexity, development, or elaboration
the higher primates including humans
higher mathematics
b
: verging on lateness
—usually used in the phrase high time
It's high time he won an award.
c
: long past : remote
high antiquity
3
: elevated in pitch (see pitch entry 4 sense 4b(1))
a high note
4
: relatively far from the equator
high latitude
5
: rich in quality : luxurious
high living
6
: slightly tainted or spoiled
high game meat
7
: exalted or elevated in character : noble
high purposes
8
: of greater degree, amount, cost, value, or content than average, usual, or expected
high prices
high temperatures
high blood pressure
traveling at a high rate of speed
unemployment was high
9
: of relatively great importance: such as
a
: foremost in rank, dignity, or standing
high officials
c
: observed with the utmost solemnity
high religious observances
e
: intellectually or artistically of the first order or best quality
high culture
f
: marked by sublime, heroic, or stirring events or subject matter
high tragedy
a tale of high adventure
11
: stressing matters of doctrine and ceremony
specifically
: high church
12
a
: filled with or expressing great joy or excitement
high spirits
b
: intoxicated by or as if by a drug or alcohol
high on cocaine
13
: articulated or pronounced with some part of the tongue close to the palate
a high vowel
1
: at or to a high place, altitude, level, or degree
climbed higher
passions ran high
2
: well, luxuriously
—often used in the phrases high off the hog and high on the hog
1
2
: a region where the pressure of the atmosphere is greater than normal : a region of high barometric pressure
a high moving out to the east
called also anticyclone
3
a
: a point or level of greater amount, number, or degree than average or expected : a high point or level
sales reached a new high
mostly sunny with highs in the 80s
the highs and lows of her career
b
: the transmission gear of a vehicle (such as an automobile) giving the greatest speed of travel
put it into high
4
a
: an excited, euphoric, or stupefied state produced by or as if by a drug
produces a high that lasts several hours
coming down from the high of their wedding day
b
: a state of elation or high spirits
the high of victory
Examples of high in a Sentence
Adjective
The apartment has high ceilings.
The airplane was high above the clouds.
The bush is six feet high.
a building 100 stories high
They have a home in the high country.
The houses are built on high ground.
They reached speeds as high as 100 mph.
He's being treated for high blood pressure.
She earns a high salary.
His books are in high demand.
Adverb
The painter climbed high on the ladder.
The hawks were circling high in the air.
The letters were stacked high on the table.
buy low and sell high
Noun
Oil prices reached a new high last winter.
The forecast is for showers with highs in the 70s.
The high only lasted a few minutes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Shakira kept the energy high on her second night in East Rutherford, N.J.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 17 May 2025
Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 3 May 2025
The stress runs especially high here in Illinois, the United States’ No. 1 soybean-producing state.
—Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2025
Michelle Fox, CNBC, 19 May 2025
The Teacher Morale Index for public school teachers ranged from a high of plus 47 in Georgia and 43 in Arizona, the most contented states, to a low of minus 14 in New Hampshire, 13 in Oregon, and 10 in Massachusetts, the most disheartened.
—Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for high
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Similarly, home equity loans and lines of credit tend to have high interest rates: in the mid-8% range as of mid-May, according to Bankrate.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Shakira kept the energy high on her second night in East Rutherford, N.J.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 17 May 2025
Adverb
Tkachuk was hit high after colliding with Penguins defenceman Ryan Graves near the end of the regular season.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 3 May 2025
The stress runs especially high here in Illinois, the United States’ No. 1 soybean-producing state.
—Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2025
Noun
The 30-year hit a high of around 5.03%, while the 10-year at one point topped 4.5%.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 19 May 2025
The Teacher Morale Index for public school teachers ranged from a high of plus 47 in Georgia and 43 in Arizona, the most contented states, to a low of minus 14 in New Hampshire, 13 in Oregon, and 10 in Massachusetts, the most disheartened.
—Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for high
Cite this Entry
“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
high
1 of 3 adjective1
a
: extending to a great distance upward : having greater height than average or usual
rooms with high ceilings
b
: having a specified elevation
six feet high
2
: advanced toward fullness
high summer
3
: shrill entry 2, sharp
high note
4
: far from the equator
high latitude
5
: noble entry 1 sense 5
a writer of high purpose
6
: of greater degree, size, amount, or content than average or ordinary
high pressure
high power of a microscope
7
: of relatively great importance: as
a
: first in rank or standing
high society
b
: serious sense 4, grave
high crimes
8
: strong sense 7
high winds
9
a
: showing joy or excitement
high spirits
b
: drunk entry 2 sense 1
also
: affected or impaired by or as if by a drug
10
: advanced or complex in structure or development
higher mathematics
higher fungi
high
2 of 3 adverb1
: at or to a high place, altitude, or degree
climbed high
2
: richly sense 1, luxuriously
living high
high
3 of 3 noun1
b
: sky sense 1
watched the birds on high
c
: heaven sense 2
a judgment from on high
2
: a region of high barometric pressure : anticyclone
3
a
: a high point or level : height
prices reached a new high
b
: the arrangement of gears (as in an automobile) that gives the highest speed and consequently the highest speed of travel
4
: a state of good feeling, excitement, or intoxication produced by or as if by a drug
Medical Definition
high
1 of 2 adjective1
: having a complex organization : greatly differentiated or developed phylogenetically
—usually used in the comparative degree of advanced types of plants and animals
the higher algae
the higher apes
compare low
2
a
: exhibiting elation or euphoric excitement
a high patient
b
: being intoxicated
also
: excited or stupefied by or as if by a drug (as marijuana or heroin)
high
2 of 2 noun
: an excited, euphoric, or stupefied state
especially
: one produced by or as if by a drug (as heroin)
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