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
The 2026 World Cup can be a catalyst to boost it to an even higher orbit. — Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Willi Castro added his career-high 13th homer — a two-run shot that put the Rockies up 7-5 in the fourth. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
This summer, home prices hit another record high of $440,600. — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 30 July 2026 After the high of winning the Premier League title in Slot’s first year in charge, standards slipped alarmingly last term. — James Pearce, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Adverb
Lucas' picks include a high-waisted midi legging and cropped tanks. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 In an increasingly digital world, landing a high-paying job at a company that makes something physical has become its own kind of clout among America’s tech bro set. — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 28 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
  • Buildings three stories or taller must be inspected at 25 to 30 years old, then every 10 years.
    — David Smiley, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Tom Brady’s teenage sons, Jack and Benjamin, are nearly as tall as him in new photos.
    — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 29 July 2026
Definition of tall
Adjective
  • Hardy Pemhiwa, the CEO of Cassava Technologies, separately told an event in London that improved energy provision would drive increased competition.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
  • Significant greening on the skin or flesh indicates increased solanine levels, which can make the potato unsafe, says Le Mire.
    — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 19 July 2026
Definition of increased
Adjective
  • The model and entrepreneur has spent years of her extremely busy life rebranding flip-flops from beach-only footwear to a gleaming symbol of elevated personal style.
    — Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 30 July 2026
  • The results reported Wednesday night are arguably even more impressive than the prior quarter, especially considering the elevated gas prices that squeezed household budgets during the three months ended in June.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 July 2026
Definition of elevated
Adjective
  • Kyle Karros singled with one out in the fourth, advanced on a groundout and scored on a throwing error by second baseman Troy Johnston.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • First, every major investment in housing, transit, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and public infrastructure must also be a workforce strategy.
    — Emma Pfohman, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of advanced
Adjective
  • Morrison said this technology does offer the promise of never driving distracted or drunk like human drivers do, but robotaxis have had some problems.
    — Josh Funk, Fortune, 31 July 2026
  • As all of this finale drama is happening around him, Danny gets increasingly drunker, foreshadowing absolutely nothing good coming our way.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • The purchase set the record for the most expensive home ever sold in Miami-Dade County.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • European consumers have lagged behind the rest of the world in adopting AC, due to high energy costs, expensive installation fees and restrictions on retrofitting the continent’s older buildings.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • The other great piece of news is that, yes, this will get a localized release with multiple language support, something that the original PlayStation Portable version never had.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Zachary Robert Stacer, 22, was arrested on July 30 and charged with two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, three counts of felonious assault and five counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer.
    — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • Shares of SpaceX slid more than 5% after the results were released and continued to slip during the conference call with top executives including Musk and President Gwynne Shotwell.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards recognized several standout properties, with Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, earning the top spot among international wellness retreats for more than a decade.
    — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 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 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on high

Nglish: Translation of high for Spanish Speakers

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