lofty

play

adjective \ˈlȯf-tē\

Definition of lofty

loftier

;

loftiest

1a : elevated in character and spirit : noble lofty idealsb : 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.
3a : rising to a great height : impressively high lofty mountainsb : 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

play \ˈlȯf-tə-lē\ adverb

loftiness

play \ˈlȯf-tē-nəs\ noun

See lofty defined for English-language learners

See lofty defined for kids

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 of lofty from the Web

Smoke detectors went off, too, investigators have determined - but because of the intensity, speed and lofty location of the fire, Gilmore said neighbors were key in spreading the alarm.

— jane wester, charlotteobserver, "Neighbors saved lives after fire overwhelmed safety mechanisms, Charlotte FD says," 18 July 2017
The dream had a suitably lofty name: the Grand Bargain.

— max bloom, National Review, "The End of the Grand Bargain," 17 July 2017
But the Cowboys haven’t won consecutive NFC East titles in more than a decade, and will have their work cut out to reach those lofty goals.

— drew davison, star-telegram, "Five keys to the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl dreams," 14 July 2017
With a lofty goal to collect 27 tons (yes, TONS) of plastic garbage, debris, and whatever else is floating around Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, the eco-conscious brand is on an ocean-cleaning mission, according to Bustle.

— sarah kinonen, Allure, "Lush Teams Up With Ocean Legacy Foundation to Turn Trash Into Packaging," 6 July 2017
Having the last name of Brohm, living Louisville and playing quarterback brought lofty expectations.

— mike carmin, The Courier-Journal, "No escaping football for Purdue's Brian Brohm," 30 June 2017
The applicants included a who’s who of marijuana cultivators with national reputations and locals with deep pockets and lofty aspirations.

— sam wood, Philly.com, "Medical marijuana permits leave losers fuming in Pa.," 29 June 2017
Lofty expectations for earnings growth at American companies raise the risk of disappointment, said Vadim Zlotnikov, chief market strategist and co-head of multi-asset solutions at AllianceBernstein.

— adam haigh, Bloomberg.com, "Go Short on American Stocks Says This $500 Billion Fund Firm," 27 June 2017
For all the lofty rhetoric from the blast-wall encased U.S. embassy, Washington, in truth, did not seem terribly interested in upholding the rule of law.

— cori crider, The Atlantic, "The Danger of Yemen's Secret Prisons," 25 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lofty.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of lofty

15th century

Synonym Discussion of 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

LOFTY Defined for English Language Learners

lofty

play

adjective

Definition of lofty for English Language Learners

: rising to a great height : very tall and impressive
: very high and good : deserving to be admired
: showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people

LOFTY Defined for Kids

lofty

play

adjective \ˈlȯf-tē\

Definition of lofty for Students

loftier

;

loftiest

1 : rising to a great height lofty trees
2 : of high rank or admirable quality lofty lineage He set lofty goals.
3 : showing a proud and superior attitude Yet I knew him otherwise: a lofty lord without kindness … — Avi, Crispin