tall

adjective \ ˈtȯl \

Definition of tall

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

c :highly exaggerated :incredible, improbable

a tall story

4 obsolete :brave, courageous

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tall

adverb

—

tallish

play \ˈtȯ-lish\ adjective

—

tallness

play \ˈtȯl-nəs\ noun

See tall defined for English-language learners

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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 of tall from the Web

Also, begin every day with a tall glass of water; then sip three 16-ounce servings throughout the day.

— Health.com, "4 Simple Ways to Hit Reset on Your Diet After Labor Day," 28 Aug. 2017
For example, the Wallace Tunnel will remain open, and the bridge height has been set at 215 feet, tall enough to provide clearance for cruise ships bigger than the Carnival Fantasy, which currently sails out of Mobile.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "I-10 bridge: ALDOT looking for teams to build, finance mega-project," 28 Aug. 2017
Its skyline comprises a riotous profusion of futuristic skyscrapers, among them the world’s tallest building.

— peter s. goodman, New York Times, "Late Wages for Migrant Workers at a Trump Golf Course in Dubai," 26 Aug. 2017
According to police, the suspect is described as a black man, between 25 and 30 years old and 6 feet tall.

— steve schering, chicagotribune.com, "Man pulls gun, robs Chicago residents who were walking in Oak Park," 25 Aug. 2017
Shortly after the suspect again runs away toward a patch of tall grass, where the officers catch him again.

— Washington Post, "Police: Nothing questionable about body camera video," 24 Aug. 2017
The cargo area has 30.9-59.6 cubic feet of space, which translates to an area that is 40 inches wide, by 31 inches tall by about 5 1/2 feet of length.

— mark maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring," 18 Aug. 2017
An anthropologist consulted on the case concluded the man had been African-American, close to 5 feet, 9 inches tall, and between 54 and 65 years old.

— ian cummings and kelsey ryan, kansascity, "Boxes of Bones: Medical Examiner’s office trying to solve oldest, coldest cases," 16 Aug. 2017
If the local 'Bucks doesn't have calories listed on the menu, opt for tall and grande sizes (sorry, venti).

— jessica mattern, Redbook, "15 Guilt-Free Starbucks Drinks For When You're Trying to Lose Weight," 2 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of tall

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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tall Synonyms

Synonyms

altitudinous, lofty, high, towering

Antonyms

low, low-lying, short, squat

Related Words

dominant, dominating, eminent, prominent; elevated, lifted, raised, uplifted, upswept; high-rise, statuesque

Near Antonyms

flat, stubby, stumpy

Synonym Discussion of 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

TALL Defined for English Language Learners

tall

adjective

Definition of tall for English Language Learners

: greater in height than the average person, building, etc.
: having a specified height

TALL Defined for Kids

tall

adjective \ ˈtȯl \

Definition of tall for Students

taller; tallest

1 :having unusually great height

2 :of a stated height

ten feet tall

3 :made up

a tall tale

—

tallness

noun

tall

adverb

Definition of tall for Students

:so as to be or look tall

Stand tall and straight.

Learn More about tall

See words that rhyme with tall Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tall Spanish Central: Translation of tall Nglish: Translation of tall for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tall for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tall

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Origin and Etymology of tall

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Definition of tall for English Language Learners

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tall

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