1
a
: high in stature
b
: of a specified height
five feet tall
2
a
: of considerable height
tall trees
b
: long from bottom to top
a tall book
c
: of a higher growing variety or species of plant
3
a
: large or formidable in amount, extent, or degree
a tall order to fill
b
: pompous, high-flown
tall talk about the vast mysteries of lifeW. A. White
c
: highly exaggerated : incredible, improbable
a tall story
4
obsolete : brave, courageous
tall adverb
tallish adjective
tallness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for tall

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 tall in a Sentence

All the children in my family grew up to be very tall. My mother is short but my father is fairly tall. The giraffe is the tallest animal. The drinks were served in tall glasses. She is five feet tall.
Recent Examples on the Web By contrast, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been erected since 1931, is 80 feet tall and is covered in 50,000 lights. Don Tse, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 The researchers built a small, wooden, open-top enclosure with walls that were tall enough to prevent the penguins from looking over the top. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023 Standing at 80-feet tall and 43-feet wide, the tree arrived in Rockefeller Plaza on Nov. 11 and has since been adorned with over 50,000 colored LED lights. Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2023 Each cream votive is 5 inches tall and will fit in with most styles and aesthetics. Addie Morton, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023 The siblings look alike, with the same narrow face, though Kip is considerably taller and now mostly bald. Jennifer Gonnerman, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023 Rambler Wine Chiller Perfect for the sommelier on your list, to compliment the status-symbol ice bucket, is a tall and sturdy wine chiller in the signature Yeti style and tech. Red Fabbri, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023 Also included in the kit are 16 connector clips that allow for taller walls. Tanya Edwards, Parents, 25 Nov. 2023 The taller gates have been installed at 11 of Metro’s 98 stations. Justin George, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tall.' 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

Middle English tal, probably from Old English getæl quick, ready; akin to Old High German gizal quick

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of tall was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tall

Cite this Entry

“Tall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tall. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

tall

adjective
1
a
: having unusually great height
b
: of a specified height
five feet tall
2
a
: large in amount, extent, or degree
a tall order to fill
b
: greatly exaggerated : improbable
a tall tale
tall adverb
tallness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tall

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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