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as in elevation
the distance of something or someone from bottom to top the altitude of the highest mountain in the U.S. is only about two thirds that of the highest mountain in the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun altitude contrast with its synonyms?

The words elevation and height are common synonyms of altitude. While all three words mean "vertical distance either between the top and bottom of something or between a base and something above it," altitude and elevation apply to height as measured by angular measurement or atmospheric pressure; altitude is preferable when referring to vertical distance above the surface of the earth or above sea level; elevation is used especially in reference to vertical height on land.

fly at an altitude of 10,000 meters
Denver is a city with a high elevation

When is height a more appropriate choice than altitude?

In some situations, the words height and altitude are roughly equivalent. However, height refers to something measured vertically whether high or low.

a wall two meters in height

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of altitude High altitude: Less oxygen in the air can cause breathlessness, even with mild activity. Emily Brown, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025 Starlink satellites are designed to fall out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere at the end of their operational life, and sightings of their high altitude disposals are becoming more common. Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 May 2025 Vertical wind shear—the difference in the speed and direction of winds at different altitudes—is a much more useful variable for the researchers. ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025 In active mode, the range and altitude of target detection are 200 and 30 kilometers, respectively. Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for altitude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altitude
Noun
  • Melling conveys the paradoxical elevation of Colin’s low self-esteem through the subservient relationship with an appealing pluckiness.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
  • In the cultural landscape of midcentury America, few transformations were as subtly seismic as the slow, sometimes reluctant, elevation of country music into the national consciousness.
    Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Photos of the aftermath of the accident, meanwhile, show the roof of the bus separated from the rest of the vehicle, which rests at a diagonal on the side of a hill, per the AP.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 11 May 2025
  • If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • To prevent the display from looking boring, create visual contrast through elements other than color—just varying the height, size, shape, and texture of the objects will create an eye-catching vignette. 3.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
  • Yet arguably his greatest achievement was to raise the bar of the entire Premier League, pushing rivals like Manchester City to new heights in order for Pep Guardiola’s men to finish above Liverpool.
    Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Altitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altitude. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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