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
Synonyms
Adjective
Adverb
- expensively
- extravagantly
- fatly
- grandly
- large
- lavishly
- luxuriously
- opulently
- palatially
- plushly
- richly
- sumptuously
Noun
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
WSJ, 22 Sep. 2023
In fact, higher levels of IgG may even be a normal immune response to food.
—Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Ld, Clec, Verywell Health, 21 Sep. 2023
Clouds will be mainly high level through tonight and into Friday.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
The results went above and beyond the team’s hopes, offering a mix of high tensile strength and toughness alongside far more flexibility than anticipated.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Sep. 2023
That’s higher than levels seen while government support measures were in place during the pandemic, and also higher than pre-pandemic numbers.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023
The slim stiletto stick delivers potent pigment with high gleam — without the tacky texture.
—Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, the earbuds also support high quality lossless audio when paired with the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset, which is expected to drop in early 2024.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 21 Sep. 2023
Considering the Cowboys faced a team from the Pac-12 last week and have Texas, Kansas State and Oklahoma on their schedule this season, that’s high praise indeed.
—Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 12 Sep. 2023
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2023
To accommodate the high seat back in a fishing kayak, the Leviathan has floatation high on the back panel.
—Ben Romans, Field & Stream, 21 Sep. 2023
Homes with fenced yards, Zillow research shows, sell an average of three days faster than non-fenced homes.
Access to parks or trails also ranks high on the wants list.
—Tom Peterson, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
The video, made by photographer Joe Connolly from a vantage point high on the Hillside and shared with the Daily News, shows the fighter jet first dropping a flare into a residential area ahead of the path of a small plane.
—Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Sep. 2023
Even the red, white and blue of the American flag flying high above the nosebleeds in Arthur Ashe Stadium take a back seat to the light itself.
—Karsten Moran, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2023
While the Rockies are the latest team to have their TV deal blow up in their face, leaving them scrambling to find a new partner, the Dodgers continue to ride high on their staggering 25-year, $8.35 billion TV deal.
—Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023
Arizona markets continued to add to their average total for a gallon of gasoline, albeit now at a slower pace, but the state still ranks high among the worst areas to top off.
—Kye Graves, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023
It is said to provide a milder and more clear-headed high than delta 9.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023
Joe Morgan, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2023
On long summer days — with Seoul’s temperatures averaging highs of more than 87 degrees in August — the air-conditioning is robust, the people-watching is engrossing and the 200 miles of subway tracks in the city are almost limitless in their possibilities for urban wanderings.
—Victoria Kim Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023
The greenback hit a 10-month high against the yen on views that the gap between Japanese and U.S. interest rates would widen.
—Anna Hirtenstein, WSJ, 21 Sep. 2023
Since peaking at a year-over-year high of 9.1% in June 2022, consumer inflation in the United States has dropped to 3.7%.
—Christopher Rugaber The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2023
Gas prices hit 2023 highs as oil stays hot
Fed officials are currently contending with some uncertainties when considering the economy’s outlook, notably how much the Fed’s previous rate hikes has already — and will continue to -— weigh on economic activity.
—Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023
In the summer of 2011, Barack Obama's disapproval rating was hitting all-time highs.
—CBS News, 17 Sep. 2023
Portland will see sunny skies Thursday and a high of about 89 degrees.
—oregonlive, 14 Sep. 2023
Fentanyl is a quick high, and combining it with a stimulant can extend feelings of euphoria, another reason people might intentionally use them together.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 14 Sep. 2023
See More
Adjective
However, stronger labor markets and persistent inflation raise the prospect of rates remaining higher for the foreseeable future, ANZ analysts say in a research note.
—WSJ, 22 Sep. 2023
In fact, higher levels of IgG may even be a normal immune response to food.
—Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Ld, Clec, Verywell Health, 21 Sep. 2023
Clouds will be mainly high level through tonight and into Friday.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
The results went above and beyond the team’s hopes, offering a mix of high tensile strength and toughness alongside far more flexibility than anticipated.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Sep. 2023
That’s higher than levels seen while government support measures were in place during the pandemic, and also higher than pre-pandemic numbers.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023
The slim stiletto stick delivers potent pigment with high gleam — without the tacky texture.
—Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, the earbuds also support high quality lossless audio when paired with the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset, which is expected to drop in early 2024.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 21 Sep. 2023
Considering the Cowboys faced a team from the Pac-12 last week and have Texas, Kansas State and Oklahoma on their schedule this season, that’s high praise indeed.
—Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 12 Sep. 2023
Adverb
And while still high compared to pre-pandemic levels, rent prices are steadily coming down on a national level.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2023
To accommodate the high seat back in a fishing kayak, the Leviathan has floatation high on the back panel.
—Ben Romans, Field & Stream, 21 Sep. 2023
Homes with fenced yards, Zillow research shows, sell an average of three days faster than non-fenced homes.
Access to parks or trails also ranks high on the wants list.
—Tom Peterson, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
The video, made by photographer Joe Connolly from a vantage point high on the Hillside and shared with the Daily News, shows the fighter jet first dropping a flare into a residential area ahead of the path of a small plane.
—Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Sep. 2023
Even the red, white and blue of the American flag flying high above the nosebleeds in Arthur Ashe Stadium take a back seat to the light itself.
—Karsten Moran, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2023
While the Rockies are the latest team to have their TV deal blow up in their face, leaving them scrambling to find a new partner, the Dodgers continue to ride high on their staggering 25-year, $8.35 billion TV deal.
—Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023
Arizona markets continued to add to their average total for a gallon of gasoline, albeit now at a slower pace, but the state still ranks high among the worst areas to top off.
—Kye Graves, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023
It is said to provide a milder and more clear-headed high than delta 9.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023
Noun
The hype around the Colorado Buffaloes football program is at an all-time high, as Deion Sanders leads his team into Eugene, Oregon, against the No. 10 Oregon Ducks on Saturday.
—Joe Morgan, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2023
On long summer days — with Seoul’s temperatures averaging highs of more than 87 degrees in August — the air-conditioning is robust, the people-watching is engrossing and the 200 miles of subway tracks in the city are almost limitless in their possibilities for urban wanderings.
—Victoria Kim Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023
The greenback hit a 10-month high against the yen on views that the gap between Japanese and U.S. interest rates would widen.
—Anna Hirtenstein, WSJ, 21 Sep. 2023
Since peaking at a year-over-year high of 9.1% in June 2022, consumer inflation in the United States has dropped to 3.7%.
—Christopher Rugaber The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2023
Gas prices hit 2023 highs as oil stays hot
Fed officials are currently contending with some uncertainties when considering the economy’s outlook, notably how much the Fed’s previous rate hikes has already — and will continue to -— weigh on economic activity.
—Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023
In the summer of 2011, Barack Obama's disapproval rating was hitting all-time highs.
—CBS News, 17 Sep. 2023
Portland will see sunny skies Thursday and a high of about 89 degrees.
—oregonlive, 14 Sep. 2023
Fentanyl is a quick high, and combining it with a stimulant can extend feelings of euphoria, another reason people might intentionally use them together.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 14 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'high.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Adverb, and Noun
Middle English, from Old English hēah; akin to Old High German hōh high, Lithuanian kaukaras hill
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of high was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing high
Articles Related to high
Dictionary Entries Near high
Cite this Entry
“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids 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)
More from Merriam-Webster on high
Nglish: Translation of high for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of high for Arabic Speakers
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