Synonyms of altitude

altitude

noun

ˈal-tə-ˌtüd 

1

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

• elevation
• height
• inches
• stature
• tallness
• rise
• highness
• loftiness

2

as in hill

usually altitudes plural an area of high ground

the air is thinner at higher altitudes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• elevation
• hill
• height
• mountain
• cliff
• ridge
• prominence
• highland
• upland
• eminence
• rise
• peak
• mound
• hump
• table
• plateau
• steep
• mount
• dome
• tableland
• mesa
• crag
• knoll
• foothill
• bluff
• butte
• alp
• tor
• precipice
• downs
• sierra
• knob
• hillock
• hummock
• sugarloaf

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lowland
• valley
• depression
• vale
• basin
• dell
• hollow
• dale
• glen
• bottom
• plain
• floodplain
• flat
• tidewater
• bottomland
• fen
• dingle

Synonym Chooser

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

Recent Examples of altitude

Curated by Our Editors The lunar module’s onboard computer had to determine the speed, altitude and rotation of the module—which are all variable quantities. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 12 May 2026

Weather radar, reports from aircraft ahead on the same route, and dispatcher updates from the ground all feed into decisions about altitude and routing. —Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026

The sounding rocket’s flight was a major success, reaching an altitude of 90km and validating a lot of what Skyroot had planned for its larger orbital vehicle, Vikram-1. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026

Unable to hold it down inside the hemisphere’s most challenging soccer environment, Dos Santos’ players could not connect through the midfield or the attack, suffering until eventual breakdowns cascaded at nearly 9,000 feet of altitude. —Josh Gross, Daily News, 10 May 2026