high

Definition of highnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective high contrast with its synonyms?

The words lofty and tall are common synonyms of high. While all three words 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

In what contexts can lofty take the place of high?

Although the words lofty and high have much in common, lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

When might tall be a better fit than high?

The words tall and high can be used in similar contexts, but tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

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 high The buddy cops’ zesty chemistry goes out on a high as Detective Campbell and Lieutenant Cole bicker next to ambulance at the film’s end. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 5 June 2026 As long-term treasury yields have surged in the U.S., similar yields in the U.K. have approached 6%, and Germany’s long-term borrowing rate is at a 15-year high. Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026 Relatedly, delinquencies on multiple types of loans have hit historic highs in recent years, concentrated primarily among low-income earners. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 19 May 2026 The stock market tumbled before reclaiming record highs. John Towfighi, CNN Money, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for high
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high
Noun
  • Courtside fans, unable to contain themselves, stormed the hardwood to take selfies with the stars in pure playoff ecstasy.
    Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 4 June 2026
  • The final whistle brought ecstasy.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • There’s a chance that the aurora borealis will appear in the sky above Idaho’s capital city on Thursday, June 4, according to the National Weather Service.
    Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 5 June 2026
  • Locals and tourists alike often flock to Mallory Square to watch the sky turn into a fire before dark.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Yes, the summer festival season is here (thank heavens).
    Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
  • Warnings, laments, and odes to renewal were expressed pictorially as dying days under bleeding heavens, belching volcanoes, proud icebergs, lavish rainbows amid spangling, mist-suffusing sunlight and dawns of peace and hope.
    Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • Through this deceptively simple framework, Hiraide delivers a poetic and poignant meditation on the passage of time, the meaning of work and love, and the surprise of finding joy in life’s ephemeral details.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
  • Call it artistic expression, or maybe just a Knicks fan too busy jumping for joy to cut the outtakes.
    Jared Weiss, New York Times, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Part of the reason is that what constitutes happiness in one part of the world won’t necessarily translate to another.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
  • Wednesday’s big money Florida Lottery draw games — Powerball, Fantasy 5, Florida Lotto — produced extreme financial happiness for players at a Miami grocery chain and Florida’s signature supermarket chain.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • These delights have been a favorite of holiday parties for decades.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
  • Padres left fielder Jase Bowen, a 2019 11th-round draft pick out of high school by the Pirates, got his first career hit in the seventh on a single to the delight of his friends and family.
    CBS News, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • Jackson died four years later on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
  • LaBeouf was previously court-ordered to attend rehab following a 2017 arrest in Georgia on charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • At the outset of the war, gasoline prices surged in response to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime trading route that facilitates the transport of about one-fifth of global crude supply.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 June 2026
  • According to guidelines issued by the Department of Justice, shackles may be used at federal facilities only to restrain violent inmates or prevent the escape of inmates during court appearances and transport.
    Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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