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as in tall
extending to a great distance upward as the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest is mountaineering's holy grail

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high

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noun

high

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adverb

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

Examples of high in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Anthony Boyle knew his latest TV project had a high bar to clear. Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2024 His proposals have gotten bolder, threatening to implement a 200% tariff on Sunday, which would be the highest tariff in U.S. history. Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Oct. 2024
Noun
To be sure, some of those gains were the result of a pandemic rebound, but, since June of 2022, when total employment got back to its pre-COVID high, 6.8 million more jobs have been added. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 This figure surpasses the previous high of 1,262 daily losses recorded in May, 2024. Katya Soldak, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
Adverb
Lawler is proud of scoring high on rankings of bipartisanship in Congress, yet occasionally a Trump-like aggressiveness comes through. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024 The California legislature can presumably hold its head high on AI legislation. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for high 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'high.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near high

Cite this Entry

“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

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