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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in increased
being at a higher level than average gasoline prices are high right now a high fever people with high incomes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson dodged the bat while fielding the grounder, but then made a high throw to second and both runners were safe. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025 The former pandemic boomtown of Denver is now solidly a buyer's market, as the latest data shows that inventory of for-sale homes in the city is now at its highest level in more than a decade. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Enrollment and student retention hit record highs. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025 Another sunny day with a high of 83. —Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 30 Aug. 2025
Adverb
Authenticity builds psychological safety, which Google’s Project Aristotle identified as the top characteristic of high-performing teams. —Shikha Bajaj, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 See how other high-performing execs structure their day. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for high
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high
  1. tall
  2. increased
  3. elevated
  4. drunk
  5. expensive
  6. great
  7. top
  8. ripped
Adjective
  • Alongside live music from Rootbeer Richie & The Reveille, Velvet Daydream, and a DJ set from Something Vinyl Club, attendees can be among the first to climb Rhingo, the 30-foot-tall steel rhino sculpture.
    — Laura Daily, Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2025
  • This Hydro Flask water bottle is tall, slim, and fits in almost every bag's side pocket, too.
    — Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
Definition of tall
Adjective
  • Their raptor-like beaks have adapted to include a large nasal passage that allows increased airflow, giving these scavengers the ability to detect decaying matter from miles away.
    — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Those along the East Coast would be particularly affected by the major rise in sea levels if the AMOC collapses, facing increased and extreme flooding, even in the absence of storms.
    — Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of increased
Adjective
  • Flip-flops had quite a renaissance this summer with the casual shoe making appearances on the runway and on the red carpet, expanding the Y2K beach footwear’s reach and turning it into a more elevated shoe option.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Brush through clean brows, and the gel sculpts each hair into place, offering an elevated, laminated appearance that lasts hours.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 5 Aug. 2025
Definition of elevated
Adjective
  • There are some who earnestly enjoy it, but many more who are trying to get as drunk as possible and believe (accurately) that the Long Island Iced Tea is the quickest way to get there.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Lots of drunk folks eat there all the time.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • In fact, many posts feature tips on how to save, with people sharing discount codes, budget-friendly hacks and links to Amazon dupes of otherwise expensive items.
    — Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
  • This car event is home to one of the most expensive car auctions in the world.
    — Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • Delaying this meal was linked with greater risk of death in a sizable 20-year study.
    — Erica Sloan, SELF, 4 Sep. 2025
  • It’s been three weeks since a historic flood put the greater Milwaukee area under water.
    — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of great
Adjective
  • The son of Curlin has danced every big dance this year and remains in top form.
    — Jared Welch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Kennedy fired the director of the CDC this week, triggering the resignations of several top leaders.
    — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Definition of top
Adjective
  • When at ports, the crew does everything from deck tours and day sails to maintenance, such as fixing a stove, sewing a ripped sail or doing laundry.
    — Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025
  • The end of the footage shows a man in a ripped shirt trying to leave before being punched in the face by a woman.
    — Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Definition of ripped

Phrases Containing high

Browse Nearby Words

higgledy-piggledy
high
high and dry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on high

Nglish: Translation of high for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Canceled' or 'cancelled'?

Is it 'autumn' or 'fall'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Plant Names That Sound Like Insults

Color Words to Describe Autumn Leaves

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All