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

At their closest, the Black Hawk helicopter and landing Delta Air Lines regional jet were only four tenths of a mile apart and separated by just 200 feet of altitude, causing controllers in the airport tower to force the jet to abort its landing. —Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025

However, researchers are concerned that glacial dams at higher altitude and in colder locations could become less stable as the world continues to warm, forming new lakes and areas at risk of outbursts. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2025

The altitude is low enough to allow for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly. —Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Built for surveillance and reconnaissance and outfitted with advanced sensors and a synthetic-aperture radar, the Hermes 900 has an endurance of at least 30 hours and a maximum flying altitude of 30,000 feet. —Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025