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
In the distance, the 37-foot-tall bronze statue of William Penn by Alexander Milne Calder (the 20th-century sculptor’s grandfather, who lived in the city for 55 years) looms atop the elaborate architectural confection of City Hall.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025
Naturally, picture windows throughout the dwelling take full advantage of the property’s picturesque sea view; the eat-in kitchen foregoes upper cabinetry in favor of a row of tall windows along its curved wall (providing the dreamiest possible setting in which to wash the dishes).
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2025
And the rear seats can be folded down to extend the cargo space, or tipped up to accommodate taller items.
—New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025
To reach the top of the tallest tower, 1,000 feet in the air, scientists climb more than 1,500 steps.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tall
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Chloe Schama, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025
Naturally, picture windows throughout the dwelling take full advantage of the property’s picturesque sea view; the eat-in kitchen foregoes upper cabinetry in favor of a row of tall windows along its curved wall (providing the dreamiest possible setting in which to wash the dishes).
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2025
And the rear seats can be folded down to extend the cargo space, or tipped up to accommodate taller items.
—New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025
To reach the top of the tallest tower, 1,000 feet in the air, scientists climb more than 1,500 steps.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tall
Cite this Entry
“Tall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tall. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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
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