lofty

adjective

ˈlȯf-tē 

loftier; loftiest

1

a

: elevated in character and spirit : noble

lofty ideals

b

: elevated in status : superior

the less lofty customers of the bar

2

: having a haughty overbearing manner : supercilious

She showed a lofty disregard for their objections.

3

a

: rising to a great height : impressively high

lofty mountains

b

: remote, esoteric

basic precepts are not lofty abstractions far removed from matters of daily living

—D. D. Eisenhower

4

: having full-bodied, firm, and resilient textile fibers

lofty flannel

loftily

ˈlȯf-tə-lē 

adverb

loftiness

ˈlȯf-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• altitudinous
• high
• tall
• towering

Choose the Right Synonym for lofty

high, tall, lofty mean above the average in height.

high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill

a high ceiling

tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

Examples of lofty in a Sentence

He set lofty goals for himself as a teacher.

She showed a lofty disregard for their objections.

Recent Examples on the Web

This would require imagining a new Rwanda that transcended ethnic differences, in which individual endowment, lofty dreams, hard work, and a bit of luck determined one’s fate rather than the accident of birth. —Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024

Politics More shelter beds, high-rise housing and a labor deal: Gloria, seeking re-election, sets lofty goals for San Diego Jan. 10, 2024 Laing said funding for the new shelter would not require cutting funding for any other city homelessness efforts. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024

That’s a lofty ambition with competition like Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. —Rachel Dube, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024

Cognition might well justify the lofty valuation, but as more AI ventures snag large sums from investors, the sense of a bubble is increasing for some analysts. —Maria Aspan, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024

More concern should be paid to the lofty expectations of a soft landing for the economy and strong earnings growth baked into stock valuations. —Bill Stone, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Get The Recipe 09 of 54 Berry Patch Cocktail Elderflower liqueur and gin provide a floral, lofty contrast to the tangy limeade and fresh raspberries in this sensational sipper. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024

There are three lofty goals Christmas sets for his team each season: Win East Bay Athletic League and NCS titles and beat the Bay Area’s premier program, Central Coast Section powerhouse St. Ignatius, a team that is 15-1 against De La Salle dating to 2008, including a 14-8 triumph this month. —Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024

Investors sometimes assign lofty valuations to small, loss-making companies in anticipation of rapid growth — or a belief that other investors will continue to bid up a company’s shares, for whatever reason — but typically not on this scale. —Joe Rennison, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

lofty

adjective

ˈlȯf-tē 

loftier; loftiest

1

: proud sense 1a, haughty

a lofty manner

2

a

: of high, noble, or excellent quality

lofty ideals

b

: of high rank : superior

3

: rising to a great height

lofty redwood trees

loftily

-tə-lē 

adverb

loftiness

-tē-nəs 

noun