Synonyms of high

high 1 of 3

adjective

ˈhī 

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

• tall
• towering
• lofty
• dominant
• altitudinous
• prominent
• eminent
• elevated
• lifted
• dominating
• uplifted
• raised
• high-rise
• statuesque
• upswept

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• low
• short
• squat
• flat
• low-lying
• stubby
• stumpy

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

• increased
• elevated
• up
• heightened
• raised
• extreme
• maximum
• escalated
• over
• sky-high
• peaked
• utmost
• inflated
• jacked (up)
• full
• maximized
• oversize
• overflowing
• overloaded
• overlarge
• overfull
• overfilled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• low
• down
• decreased
• dropped
• under
• depressed
• knockdown
• receded

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

• elevated
• soaring
• upper
• ascendant
• ascending
• raised
• nosebleed
• airy
• overhead
• upheld
• upward
• uplifted
• uppermost
• topmost
• upraised
• overlooking
• upmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• low
• lowered
• dropped
• down
• descending
• grounded
• depressed
• fallen
• sunken
• low-lying
• level
• lowermost
• even
• descendant
• undermost
• nethermost
• abreast

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

• higher
• advanced
• improved
• evolved
• late
• developed
• progressive
• enhanced
• modern
• educated
• forward
• refined
• newest
• precocious
• new
• grown
• civilized
• contemporary
• latest
• recent
• full-scale
• ripe
• current
• enlightened
• aged
• matured
• full-blown
• mature
• ripened
• novel
• perfected
• full-fledged
• now
• present-day
• up-to-date
• newfangled
• ultramodern
• cutting-edge
• mod
• leading-edge
• supermodern
• new-fashioned
• space-age

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lower
• low
• primitive
• backward
• rudimentary
• undeveloped
• green
• rude
• immature
• nonprogressive
• underdeveloped
• undersized
• underweight
• early
• unripe
• savage
• uneducated
• unripened
• uncivilized
• past
• primordial
• old
• embryonic
• primeval
• germinal
• obsolete
• antique
• antiquated
• old-fashioned
• hoary
• dated
• old-time
• out-of-date
• musty
• antediluvian
• outworn
• Neanderthal
• fusty
• passé
• oldfangled

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

• drunk
• drunken
• wet
• fried
• impaired
• blind
• wasted
• bombed
• lit
• stiff
• under the influence
• tight
• loaded
• plastered
• intoxicated
• smashed
• ripped
• gassed
• boozy
• under the weather
• hammered
• inebriated
• stinking
• looped
• stewed
• tipsy
• stoned
• crocked
• wiped out
• tanked
• besotted
• alcoholic
• lit up
• blasted
• inebriate
• three sheets in the wind
• pickled
• sloshed
• juiced
• potted
• tiddly
• oiled
• squiffed
• in the bag
• blitzed
• soused
• sozzled
• canned
• sottish
• blotto
• pie-eyed
• cockeyed
• rocky
• in one's cups
• maudlin
• strung out
• dissolute
• beery
• dopey
• stupefied
• crapulous
• dissipated
• befuddled
• debauched
• dipsomaniacal
• bleary-eyed
• bibulous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straight
• dry
• sober
• level
• steady
• temperate
• cool
• abstemious
• abstinent
• teetotal
• clearheaded

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

• expensive
• valuable
• costly
• premium
• precious
• extravagant
• pricey
• dear
• luxurious
• high-end
• steep
• priceless
• exorbitant
• spendy
• high-ticket
• unreasonable
• prohibitive
• sky-high
• big-ticket
• ultraexpensive
• unaffordable
• deluxe
• invaluable
• uneconomic
• inestimable
• stiff
• overpriced
• sumptuous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• inexpensive
• cheap
• moderate
• worthless
• valueless
• discounted

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

• great
• noble
• sublime
• gallant
• big
• honorable
• lofty
• elevated
• natural
• magnanimous
• chivalrous
• worthy
• lordly
• high-minded
• exalted
• heroic
• venerable
• greathearted
• regal
• valiant
• magnificent
• moving
• majestic
• princely
• inspiring
• uplifting
• knightly
• numinous
• glorified
• ennobled
• august

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• low
• base
• degraded
• degenerate
• ignoble
• debased
• sordid
• ugly
• vile
• wretched
• squalid
• vicious
• offensive
• little
• repulsive
• abominable
• contemptible
• detestable
• hateful
• narrow
• dirty
• despicable
• lousy
• sorry
• mean
• dastardly
• ignominious
• humiliating
• coarse
• degrading
• crude
• discreditable
• vulgar
• small-minded

8

as in top

highest in rank or authority

high government officials

lord high executioner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• top
• commanding
• chief
• supreme
• presiding
• foremost
• lead
• senior
• leading
• first
• primary
• principal
• head
• prime
• in charge
• premier
• main
• high-level
• supereminent
• preeminent
• upper
• predominant
• major
• supervisory
• managing
• dominant
• controlling
• paramount
• reigning
• superior
• overseeing
• uppermost
• topmost
• predominate
• sovereign
• ruling
• directing
• upmost
• officiating
• regnant
• ascendant
• grand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lower
• less
• second
• last
• secondary
• lesser
• lowly
• subordinate
• inferior
• ancillary
• subsidiary
• junior
• assistant
• under
• assisting
• deputy
• coadjutor

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

• ripped
• hooked
• bombed
• loaded
• wasted
• addicted
• stoned
• blasted
• strung out
• wiped out
• hopped-up
• zonked-out
• blitzed
• zonked
• spaced-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straight
• sober
• clean
• level
• steady
• temperate
• cool
• abstemious
• abstinent
• clearheaded

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

• ecstasy
• heaven
• joy
• happiness
• delight
• intoxication
• transport
• euphoria
• pleasure
• frenzy
• seventh heaven
• elation
• exhilaration
• rapture
• paradise
• trance
• cloud nine
• joyfulness
• bliss
• rhapsody
• swoon
• elatedness
• glee
• exaltation
• blissfulness
• cheerfulness
• cheer
• joyousness
• madness
• fervor
• enchantment
• reverie
• felicity
• exuberance
• inspiration
• gladness
• blessedness
• jubilation
• passion
• gleefulness
• jubilance
• gaiety
• lightheartedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• depression
• misery
• sadness
• unhappiness
• woe
• wretchedness
• despair
• melancholy
• blues
• dumps
• gloom
• dejection
• doldrums
• desolation
• despondency
• dreariness
• gloominess
• forlornness
• dispiritedness
• disheartenment
• heartsickness
• disconsolateness
• downheartedness
• mopes

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

• sky
• blue
• heaven(s)
• welkin
• firmament
• midair
• horizon
• skyline

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

• large
• expensively
• luxuriously
• fine
• comfortably
• extravagantly
• richly
• sumptuously
• impressively
• opulently
• grandly
• fatly
• lavishly
• magnificently
• palatially
• plushly
• imposingly
• splendidly
• ostentatiously
• pretentiously
• pompously
• grandiosely
• affluently
• wastefully
• immoderately
• prodigally
• indulgently
• wealthily
• intemperately
• wantonly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• simply
• modestly
• humbly
• plainly
• poorly
• austerely
• reasonably
• economically
• moderately
• cheaply
• meagerly
• sparingly
• inexpensively
• conservatively
• frugally
• unpretentiously
• sensibly
• prudently
• sparely
• temperately
• skimpily
• thriftily
• restrainedly

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

Recent Examples of high

Adjective

The Brewers’ flame-thrower was on his A-game, tying a season-high with 11 strikeouts over six innings in a 6-0, series-opening win for Milwaukee. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026

Luke Raley hit two, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-high seven runs, helping deal the Sox a 12-8 loss in front of a Rate Field crowd of 23,011. —Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026

Noun

In fact, Russian statistics show that nonpayments of commercial bills hit a record high of $109 billion in January. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 May 2026

Temperature-wise, highs will only reach the mid 60s. —Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 9 May 2026

Adverb

Christopher Cann Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said in a public address that a strike on the Lebanese capital of Beirut killed a high-ranking Hezbollah commander. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 8 May 2026

An email obtained by the Herald shows that in January 2025, high-ranking Hialeah officials, including Lynskey, the city attorney and Bovo’s chief of staff, were in discussions with HSA on how to proceed with water payments, including whether the city should bill HSA for Steward’s overdue balances. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026

Phrases Containing high

• high and dry
• high and low
• high ground
• high horse
• high jinks
• high noon
• high priest
• high road
• high roller
• senior high school