high 1 of 3

adjective

ˈhī How to pronounce high (audio)
Definition of highnext
1
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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2
as in increased
being at a higher level than average gasoline prices are high right now a high fever people with high incomes

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3
as in elevated
located at a greater height than average or usual an eagle's nest high on the cliff an old house with high ceilings

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4
as in higher
being far along in development a cabal of self-proclaimed Luddites who argued that the evils of high technology far outweighed its virtues

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5
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol not only has he never been high, he has never even tasted alcohol

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6
as in expensive
commanding a large price the concert tickets weren't cheap—you don't even want to know how high they were

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7
as in great
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature she had the highest intentions, but her "help" turned out to be a disaster

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8
as in top
highest in rank or authority high government officials lord high executioner

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9
as in ripped
being under the influence of a recreational drug he's clean now, but when he was younger he used to get high every day

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high

2 of 3

noun

1
as in ecstasy
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion it took days for the high of the World Series win to wear off

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2
as in sky
the expanse of air surrounding the earth V formations of honking geese on high mean winter will soon be here

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high

3 of 3

adverb

as in large
in a luxurious manner after he had won the lottery Philip lived pretty high—until all the money was gone

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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
Adjective
Today, patients who enroll in hospice tend to have a higher quality of life, including less pain, greater patient satisfaction and, for some, longer survival. — Jane Callahan, The Conversation, 14 July 2026 Currently, the smoke is relatively high up in the atmosphere. — Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 14 July 2026
Noun
After months of hitting record highs, semiconductor chip stocks have dropped in recent weeks, weighing on the broader US stock market. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 July 2026 ExxonMobil and Chevron are both off about 20% from their March 30 highs. — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 9 July 2026
Adverb
Meanwhile, in another large high-sided skillet, combine the butter and garlic over medium heat. — ABC News, 7 July 2026 Messi played a ball into the box that was deflected high into the air and was nodded down by one of his teammates. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for high
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high
  1. tall
  2. increased
  3. elevated
  4. advanced
  5. drunk
  6. expensive
  7. great
  8. top
Adjective
  • The arch would be more than twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial, which is 99 feet (30 meters) tall, and close to half the height of the Washington Monument, at about 555 feet (169 meters) tall.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
  • Should another fire roll through, the seedlings are not yet tall enough to hold their branches above the flames.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of tall
Adjective
  • The organization has added several layers of scouting and analytics over the past 24 months, and one of the results is an increased level of activity involving college defenders.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Research has shown that there is a 42% increased likelihood of tuning in to a full game after watching clips and interviews on TikTok, according to WARC Media.
    — Clara Ludmir, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of increased
Adjective
  • His blood work likewise appeared normal, giving no indications of anything amiss, such as an elevated white blood cell count that might signal a parasitic infection.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
  • The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has warned the public to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the water at several Los Angeles County beaches due to elevated bacteria levels.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of elevated
Adjective
  • Audio from the original 911 call appeared to indicate McConnell was unconscious when emergency crews were dispatched, and the dispatcher requested an advanced life support response.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • The Cheswick campus spans 118 acres, where Curtiss-Wright designs, manufactures, and tests advanced solutions critical to naval defense and commercial nuclear markets.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026
Definition of advanced
Adjective
  • There were just a bunch of drunk guys at the mansion and a couple Playboy bunnies that were contractually hired to walk around and wave.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • Since World Cup tickets began selling on FIFA Marketplace last September, fans have expressed disappointment in the expensive price tag.
    — Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Traditional industrial robotics require precise, expensive programming for highly specific environments.
    — Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • Naturally, minds will go back to 1986, when Argentina beat England 2-1 and Diego Maradona scored arguably the greatest World Cup goal of all-time.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • And the greatest Golden Boot chase in World Cup history as greats Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Haaland and Kane rose like giants.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • From a team perspective, DFW hosted all four semifinalists and the top seven goal scorers in the entire tournament.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • One of the first things Arison did after becoming the Heat’s owner was hire Pat Riley in September 1995, which ended up turning into one of Arison’s top basketball accomplishments.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of top

Phrases Containing high

Browse Nearby Words

higgledy-piggledy
high
high and dry
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Cite this Entry

“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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