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
Iran has tried to push world energy prices higher with attacks on the region's oil shipping routes; the United States, in turn, has aimed to wreck Iran's economy by blockading its ports since June and slapping it with increasingly tough sanctions. — Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026 According to Polymarket’s own newsy reconstruction in its magazine-like imprint The Oracle, more than $21 million eventually traded in that one market, while Biden’s withdrawal produced the platform’s highest-volume day to that point. — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
That buying pressure should help Treasury yields come off multi-year highs. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 Within days of his arrival at Logos House, Christian's glucose levels rose to dangerous highs. — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
Adverb
Oregon finished that drive with a field goal, the only points either high-scoring offense managed in the first quarter. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 At one point we were tilted at a steep angle with at least one wheel high off the ground. — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 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
  • In the distance, a huge mobile crane, or some other piece of machinery, loomed, impossibly tall, shimmering in the air like a mirage.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The teen, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs around 200 pounds, beat the woman with his firearm and then violated her, according to law enforcement sources.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of tall
Adjective
  • Although the majority of studies showed this effect, Yendamuri noted that some did not identify a relationship – and a couple of studies even showed an increased risk of some specific cancers, such as thyroid cancer.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The Treasury Department said the increased size of buybacks aims to provide support and help bond markets function smoothly.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of increased
Adjective
  • Diesel prices could remain elevated for a year, according to a new survey of oil and gas executives.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • That could bring some elevated humidity and a small chance of thunderstorms and cloud coverage in mountainous areas, but not enough to significantly lower temperatures across the region.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of elevated
Adjective
  • Scandium’s role in aerospace and advanced technology Rare earth separation involves converting mixed material into individual oxides used across advanced manufacturing and other strategic industries.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Scotti has tried to find out from Fort Worth police if advanced DNA technology, known as forensic genetic genealogy, might move Gloria’s case forward.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of advanced
Adjective
  • And speaking of Luann being drunk, after the magic, the speech begins.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Erin Traynor is a two-time finalist who made it to the baking stage in 2018 with her almond coffee cookies and in 2019 with her drunk uncle cookies.
    — Kayla Samoy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • But manufacturers also sometimes diluted more expensive olive oil and lard with cheap cottonseed oil.
    — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Paying Ukrainian soldiers is the government’s most essential and expensive task.
    — Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • The rich collections do a great job of honoring visual traditions and explaining their connections to real people and real places.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Despite deep-rooted tensions between southerners and the PLC, both are in agreement that the Houthi threat is far greater than that of the other.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • Prestonfield House is one of the city's most renowned five-star hotels, with a location within walking distance of all the key sights—and all the bustle of the Fringe's top venues—while feeling like a world away.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Anything But Ghosts will arrive on May 7, 2027 from Focus Features, a little less than one year after Obsession hit theaters and became the studio’s top grossing movie of all time.
    — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 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 5 Oct. 2026.

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