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 life …—
W. A. White
W. A. White
c
: highly exaggerated : incredible, improbable
a tall story
4
obsolete
: brave, courageous
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
My first night is spent on the top floor of the historic main house in a double room, where cooling cream and butterscotch tones are set against pops of deep ocean blue in geometric patterns across plump pillows and beams—taller guests should choose their side of the bed accordingly.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
The agency said the man is approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 tall with an average build.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
In the wild, this cactus can get 4 feet tall and 10 inches wide, but a little bishop's cap in a 4-inch pot will stay politely small for many years to come.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
There’s something about a tall collar (via a zipper or buckle) that feels super high-fashion.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tall
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
The agency said the man is approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 tall with an average build.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
In the wild, this cactus can get 4 feet tall and 10 inches wide, but a little bishop's cap in a 4-inch pot will stay politely small for many years to come.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
There’s something about a tall collar (via a zipper or buckle) that feels super high-fashion.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tall
Cite this Entry
“Tall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tall. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tall
adjective1
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
