High Definition & Meaning

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high

adjective (28)adverb (6)noun (6)

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View synonyms for highAmericanBritishhigh

[ hahy ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

higher, highest.

1. having a great or considerable extent or reach upward or vertically; lofty; tall:

   a high wall.

   Antonyms: low

2. having a specified extent upward:

   The apple tree is now 20 feet high.

3. situated above the ground or some base; elevated:

   a high platform;

   a high ledge.

4. exceeding the common degree or measure; strong; intense:

   high speed;

   high color.

5. expensive; costly; dear:

   The price of food these days is much too high.

6. exalted in rank, station, eminence, etc.; of exalted character or quality:

   a high official;

   high society.

   Synonyms: distinguished, prominent, eminent, elevated

7. Music.
   1. acute in pitch.
   2. a little sharp, or above the desired pitch.
8. produced by relatively rapid vibrations; shrill:

   the high sounds of crickets.

9. extending to or from an elevation:

   a high dive.

10. great in quantity, as number, degree, or force:

    a high temperature;

    high cholesterol.

11. Religion.
    1. chief; principal; main:

       the high altar of a church.

    2. High Church.
12. of great consequence; important; grave; serious;

    the high consequences of such a deed;

    high treason.

    Synonyms: capital

13. haughty; arrogant:

    He took a high tone with his subordinates.

14. advanced to the utmost extent or to the culmination:

    high tide.

15. elevated; merry or hilarious:

    high spirits;

    a high old time.

16. rich; extravagant; luxurious:

    They have indulged in high living for years.

17. Informal. intoxicated with alcohol or narcotics:

    He was so high he couldn't stand up.

18. remote:

    high latitude;

    high antiquity.

19. extreme in opinion or doctrine, especially religious or political:

    a high Tory.

20. designating or pertaining to highland or inland regions.
21. having considerable energy or potential power.
22. Automotive. of, relating to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the speed of the engine crankshaft and of the drive shaft most closely correspond:

    high gear.

23. Phonetics. (of a vowel) articulated with the upper surface of the tongue relatively close to some portion of the palate, as the vowels of eat and it, which are high front, and those of boot and put, which are high back. Compare close ( def 49 ), low 1( def 30 ), mid 1( def 3 ).
24. (of meat, especially game) tending toward a desirable or undesirable amount of decomposition; slightly tainted:

    He likes his venison high.

25. Metallurgy. containing a relatively large amount of a specified constituent (usually used in combination):

    high-carbon steel.

26. Baseball. (of a pitched ball) crossing the plate at a level above the batter's shoulders:

    The pitch was high and outside.

27. Cards.
    1. having greater value than other denominations or suits.
    2. able to take a trick; being a winning card.
    3. being or having a winning combination:

       Whose hand is high?

28. Nautical. noting a wind of force 10 on the Beaufort scale, equal to a whole gale.

adverb

higher, highest.

1. at or to a high point, place, or level.
2. in or to a high rank or estimate:

   He aims high in his political ambitions.

3. at or to a high amount or price.
4. in or to a high degree.
5. luxuriously; richly; extravagantly:

   They have always lived high.

6. Nautical. as close to the wind as is possible while making headway with sails full.

noun

1. Automotive. high gear:

   He shifted into high when the road became level.

2. Informal. high school ( def ).
3. Meteorology. a pressure system characterized by relatively high pressure at its center. Compare anticyclone, low 1( def 46 ).
4. a high or the highest point, place, or level; peak:

   a record high for unemployment.

5. Slang.
   1. a euphoric state induced by alcohol, drugs, etc.
   2. a period of sustained excitement, exhilaration, or the like:

      After winning the lottery he was on a high for weeks.

6. Cards. the ace or highest trump out, especially in games of the all fours family.

high

/ haɪ /

adjective

1. being a relatively great distance from top to bottom; tall

   a high building

2. situated at or extending to a relatively great distance above the ground or above sea level

   a high plateau

3. 1. postpositive being a specified distance from top to bottom

      three feet high

   2. ( in combination )

      a seven-foot-high wall

4. extending from an elevation

   a high dive

5. in combination coming up to a specified level

   knee-high

6. being at its peak or point of culmination

   high noon

7. of greater than average height

   a high collar

8. greater than normal in degree, intensity, or amount

   high prices

   a high wind

   a high temperature

9. of large or relatively large numerical value

   high frequency

   high mileage

   high voltage

10. (of sound) acute in pitch; having a high frequency
11. (of latitudes) situated relatively far north or south from the equator
12. (of meat) slightly decomposed or tainted, regarded as enhancing the flavour of game
13. of great eminence; very important

    the high priestess

14. exalted in style or character; elevated

    high drama

15. expressing or feeling contempt or arrogance

    high words

16. elated; cheerful

    high spirits

17. informal. predicative overexcited

    by the end of term the children are really high

18. informal. being in a state of altered consciousness, characterized esp by euphoria and often induced by the use of alcohol, narcotics, etc
19. luxurious or extravagant

    high life

20. advanced in complexity or development

    high finance

21. (of a gear) providing a relatively great forward speed for a given engine speed Compare low 1
22. phonetics of, relating to, or denoting a vowel whose articulation is produced by raising the back of the tongue towards the soft palate or the blade towards the hard palate, such as for the ee in English see or oo in English moon Compare low 1
23. capital when part of name formal and elaborate in style

    High Mass

24. usually capital of or relating to the High Church
25. remote, esp in time
26. cards
    1. having a relatively great value in a suit
    2. able to win a trick
27. high and dry stranded; helpless; destitute
28. high and low in all places; everywhere
29. high and mighty informal. arrogant
30. high as a kite informal.
    1. very drunk
    2. overexcited
    3. euphoric from drugs
31. high opinion a favourable opinion

adverb

1. at or to a height

   he jumped high

2. in a high manner
3. nautical close to the wind with sails full

noun

1. a high place or level
2. informal. a state of altered consciousness, often induced by alcohol, narcotics, etc
3. another word for anticyclone
4. short for high school
5. capital (esp in Oxford) the High Street
6. electronics the voltage level in a logic circuit corresponding to logical one Compare low 1
7. on high
   1. at a height
   2. in heaven

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Other Words From

• over·high adjective
• over·highly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of high1

First recorded before 900; Middle English heigh, variant of hegh, hey, heh, Old English hēah, hēh; cognate with Dutch hoog, Old High German hoh ( German hoch ), Old Norse hār, Swedish hög, Gothic hauhs, Lithuanian kaũkas “swelling,” kaukarà “hill”Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of high1

Old English hēah; related to Old Norse hār, Gothic hauhs, Old High German hōh high, Lithuanian kaũkas bump, Russian kúchča heap, Sanskrit kuča bosomDiscover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. fly high, to be full of hope or elation:

   His stories began to sell, and he was flying high.

2. high and dry,
   1. (of a ship) grounded so as to be entirely above water at low tide.
   2. in a deprived or distressing situation; deserted; stranded:

      We missed the last bus and were left high and dry.

3. high and low, in every possible place; everywhere:

   The missing jewelry was never found, though we searched high and low for it.

4. high on, Informal. enthusiastic or optimistic about; having a favorable attitude toward or opinion of.
5. on high,
   1. at or to a height; above.
   2. in heaven.
   3. having a high position, as one who makes important decisions:

      the powers on high.

More idioms and phrases containing high

• blow sky-high
• fly high
• friend in court (high places)
• hell or high water
• hit the high spots (points)
• hold one's head high
• in high dudgeon
• knee-high to a grasshopper
• on high
• on one's high horse
• ride high
• run high
• stink to high heaven
• think a lot (highly) of
• turn on (get high)

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Synonym Study

High, lofty, tall, towering refer to something that has considerable height. High is a general term, and denotes either extension upward or position at a considerable height: six feet high; a high shelf. Lofty denotes imposing or even inspiring height: lofty crags. Tall is applied either to something that is high in proportion to its breadth, or to anything higher than the average of its kind: a tall tree, building. Towering is applied to something that rises to a great or conspicuous height as compared with something else: a towering mountain.Discover More

Example Sentences

Now, with no potential buyer materialising, the companies' final chance to derail the ban is via the American high court.

From BBC

So delays in renewing their fleets will cost airlines money – potentially leading to higher ticket prices for their passengers - as well as hampering efforts to improve their environmental performance.

From BBC

It's possible independent pay review bodies will recommend a higher figure and the government has said it will consider their reports.

From BBC

Snow could also cause disruption, especially in northern Scotland and over high ground, while strong winds are also possible.

From BBC

Coverage limits might be higher and usually there are deductibles.

From Los Angeles Times

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Related Words

• big
• great
• huge
• immense
• large
• lofty
• long
• soaring
• steep
• tremendous

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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