HIGH | Meaning In The Cambridge English Dictionary

Meaning of high in English highadjective uk /haɪ/ us /haɪ/

high adjective (DISTANCE)

Add to word list Add to word list A2 (especially of things that are not living) being a large distance from top to bottom or a long way above the ground, or having the stated distance from top to bottom: a high building/mountain high ceilings It's two and a half metres high and one metre wide. The corn grew waist-high (= as high as a person's waist) in the fields. having a large distance from bottom to top

• highThe garden is surrounded by a high wall.
• tallMount Everest is the world's tallest mountain.
• loftyThe path winds along the lofty peaks of the Andes.
• soaringSoaring mountains and lush valleys are every nature enthusiast's dream.

See more results »

• The house is encircled by a high fence.
• I've put the cake on a high shelf where he can't get at it.
• I love high heels but they're rather impractical.
• A high wall isolated the house from the rest of the village.
• The village is perched on top of a high hill.

High, tall and deep

• abysmal
• altitude
• ankle-deep
• bottomless
• deep
• dwarf
• ectomorph
• ectomorphic
• gawky
• higher
• lofty
• overshadow
• profundity
• rangy
• rear
• tall
• tallish
• tallness
• tower
• tower above/over someone/something phrasal verb

See more results »

high adjective (ABOVE AVERAGE)

B1 greater than the usual level or amount: a high level of The job demands a high level of concentration. He suffers from high blood pressure. Antique furniture fetches very high prices these days. She got very high marks in her geography exam. It's very dangerous to drive at high speed when the roads are wet. He's in a high-security prison. greater than the usual level or amount

• highHigh temperatures are set to continue into next week.
• high inThis cereal is high in fibre and nutrients.
• extremeThey live in extreme poverty.
• stratosphericHome prices are stratospheric around here!
• soaringRents are soaring while pay remains steady.

See more results »  high in something C1 containing a large quantity of something: I avoid foods that are high in fat. See more  high standards/principles B1 very good or very moral standards: She was a woman of high principles. See more  high winds fast, strong wind: High winds caused delays on the ferries. See more

• Chocolate has a high fat content.
• She had a high temperature and was delirious.
• Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas.
• A lot of businesses are being hurt by the current high interest rates.
• The pollen count is high today, which is bad news for hay fever sufferers.

Big and quite big

• appreciable
• baronial
• bigly
• bloated
• boxcar
• bulky
• fullness
• grandiosely
• grandly
• grandness
• greatness
• growthy
• heaping
• over-large
• palatial
• palatially
• pumped
• roomy
• the bigger the better idiom
• XXL

See more results »

high adjective (IMPORTANT)

B2 having power, an important position, or great influence: an officer of high rank

• We've got to change the present system in which high court judges are regarded as somehow untouchable.
• As the daughter of the president, she enjoys high status among her peers.
• His father was a high-ranking official in the embassy.
• She is widely regarded as the high priestess of contemporary dance.
• At the age of 32, she managed to enter one of the citadels of high fashion.

Important people and describing important people

• actor
• August
• augustly
• baron
• be the cat's whiskers idiom
• doyen
• doyenne
• first among equals idiom
• FLOTUS
• get over something/someone phrasal verb
• get over yourself! idiom
• guest of honour
• Mister Big
• mogul
• moment
• movers and shakers
• MVP
• nabob
• nibs
• the grand old man of something idiom

See more results »

high adjective (SOUND)

near or at the top of the range of sounds: I can't reach the high notes. at the top of a range of sound

• highShe has a very high voice.
• high-pitchedHe talks to his dog in the most ridiculous high-pitched voice.
• shrillHe called the dog back with a shrill whistle.
• reedyHe had a thin, reedy voice.

See more results » Describing qualities of sound

• audibly
• boomy
• chocolatey
• chuff
• clomp
• crackling
• ear-splitting
• mellifluously
• melodically
• melodious
• melodiously
• metallically
• murmurous
• raucous
• staccato
• symphonically
• textured
• thready
• tinnily
• tunefully

See more results »

high adjective (BAD)

UK (of food) smelling bad and no longer good to eat: This meat is rather high - I'm going to throw it out. Not pleasant to eat or drink

• (as) tough as old boots idiom
• bitter
• bitterness
• bland
• chewy
• dishwater
• insipidly
• insipidness
• like dishwater idiom
• mouldy
• overripe
• pungent
• stale
• staleness
• stick to someone's ribs idiom
• stodginess
• stodgy
• unpalatable
• unripe
• watery

See more results »

high adjective (MENTAL STATE)

C2 not thinking or behaving normally because of taking drugs: high on He was high on heroin at the time. Drugs - general words

• abstinence
• abstinence-only
• altered state of consciousness
• anti-drug
• bindle
• bong
• crank
• freebasing
• hotboxing
• impaired
• jacked up
• legal high
• lit
• smashed
• spike
• strung out
• substance
• wasted
• wean someone off something phrasal verb
• wrap

See more results »

Grammar

High or tall?We use high for mountains and for things which are a long way above the ground: … MeasurementsWe use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: … Area: length, width, depth and heightWe use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: … Weight and volumeWe use the verb weigh to measure weight: … Frequency, speed, timeWe use many different expressions to describe frequency, speed and time. Here are some of them: …

Idioms

be as high as a kite come/get (down) off your high horse get on your high horse have it on the highest authority high and mighty hunt/search high and low leave someone high and dry live high on/off the hog take the high road on high highnoun uk /haɪ/ us /haɪ/

high noun (ABOVE AVERAGE)

[ C ] a higher level than has ever been reached previously: all-time/record high Interest rates have reached an all-time/record high.

• The pass rate in the exams has reached a new high this year.
• Share prices have soared to a new all-time high in a day of frantic trading on the stock market.
• The value of the shares hit a new high today.
• Yields on gas and electricity shares have hit a record high.
• Viewing figures for the TV show hit a new high last week.

Large in number or quantity

• a hundred/thousand/million and one idiom
• above and beyond something idiom
• amount
• and then some idiom
• another
• any amount of idiom
• billion
• density
• gazillion
• heap
• high density
• huge
• hundred
• numerously
• out/up the wazoo idiom
• poly
• so much so idiom
• some
• thick
• thousand

See more results »

high noun (MENTAL STATE)

[ C usually singular ] a period of extreme excitement or happiness when you feel full of energy, often caused by a feeling of success, or by drugs or alcohol or a religious experience: Exercise gives you a high.on a high She's been on a high ever since she got her article published in the Times.highs and lows There are lots of highs and lows in this job. Pleasure and happiness

• abandon
• afterglow
• beatitude
• bed
• bed of roses idiom
• delirium
• exaltation
• exultancy
• exultation
• feast
• for fun phrase
• fulfilment
• goody
• joy
• joyfulness
• joyousness
• jubilation
• like a dog with two tails idiom
• savour
• state of euphoria

See more results »

high noun (EDUCATION)

[ S ] US informal for high school (when used in the name of a school): I go to Santa Ana High. Types of school

• alma mater
• alternative school
• business school
• centre of excellence
• charter school
• coeducational
• conservatory
• elementary school
• grade school
• grant-maintained school
• junior
• prep school
• preparatory school
• reform school
• reformatory
• secondary school
• selective
• seminary
• senior high school
• special school

See more results »

Grammar

MeasurementsWe use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: … Area: length, width, depth and heightWe use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: … Weight and volumeWe use the verb weigh to measure weight: … Frequency, speed, timeWe use many different expressions to describe frequency, speed and time. Here are some of them: … highadverb uk /haɪ/ us /haɪ/ B1 at or to a large distance from the ground: You'll have to hit the ball quite high to get it over that net. The new jet flew much higher than most planes.

• We saw a condor gliding high above the mountains.
• The ball rose high above the fielder and fell behind the boundary line.
• Can you see those goats grazing high in the mountains?
• He batted the ball high into the air.
• She twirled her baton high in the air as she led the parade.

High, tall and deep

• abysmal
• altitude
• ankle-deep
• bottomless
• deep
• dwarf
• ectomorph
• ectomorphic
• gawky
• higher
• lofty
• overshadow
• profundity
• rangy
• rear
• tall
• tallish
• tallness
• tower
• tower above/over someone/something phrasal verb

See more results »

Grammar

MeasurementsWe use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: … Area: length, width, depth and heightWe use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: … Weight and volumeWe use the verb weigh to measure weight: … Frequency, speed, timeWe use many different expressions to describe frequency, speed and time. Here are some of them: … (Definition of high from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

high | American Dictionary

highadjective [ -er/-est only ] us /hɑɪ/

high adjective [-er/-est only] (DISTANCE)

Add to word list Add to word list (esp. of things that are not living) being a large distance from top to bottom or a long way above the ground, or having the stated distance from top to bottom: Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. We had to climb over a wall that was ten feet high.

high adjective [-er/-est only] (ABOVE AVERAGE)

greater than the usual level: high standards of quality high salaries a high level of concentration She was driving at high speed on a wet road. The companies produce high-quality olive oils. Something's high point is the time when it is the most successful, enjoyable, important, or valuable: The high point of my week is arriving home from work on a Friday evening.

high adjective [-er/-est only] (IMPORTANT)

having power, great influence, or an important position: He is an officer of high rank. She has a lot of friends in high places (= in positions of power).

high adjective [-er/-est only] (SOUND)

near or at the top of the range of sounds: Dog whistles play notes that are too high for human beings to hear.

high adjective [-er/-est only] (FEELING HAPPY)

feeling extremely happy, excited, or full of energy: He was so high after winning the race that he couldn’t sit still.  in high spirits Someone who is in high spirits is extremely happy and enjoying the situation: She was in high spirits after scoring the winning basket.

Idioms

(it’s) high time in high gear highadverb [ -er/-est only ] us /hɑɪ/

high adverb [-er/-est only] (AT LARGE DISTANCE)

at or to a large distance from the ground: The Concorde flies much higher than most airplanes. highnoun us /hɑɪ/

high noun (HIGH LEVEL)

[ C ] a higher level than has ever been reached before: Interest rates have reached an all-time high.

high noun (HAPPY PERIOD)

[ C usually sing ] a period of extreme excitement or happiness, when you feel full of energy: There are lots of highs and lows in this job. (Definition of high from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

high | Business English

highadjective uk /haɪ/ us Add to word list Add to word list greater than the usual level or amount: high interest rates/costs/expenses/pricesa high degree/percentage/proportion The research evidence all indicates a high degree of customer satisfaction with the product. [ usually before noun ] in a position of power, importance, or great influence: The firm has been propelled from investment banking's third division to its highest rank. better than the usual quality or standard: She demanded and achieved high standards from those with whom she worked. The company stresses speed, low cost, and high quality in its products. The community has a stable work force, good jobs and a high quality of life. highnoun [ C ] uk /haɪ/ us a higher level than has been reached previously: Stocks end at new highs for the fourth session in a row.  highs and lows [ plural ] the times that follow each other when a company, career, investment, etc. is successful and when it is not: All jobs have an element of routine and a cycle of highs and lows. Jonathan, 25, has already seen some of the highs and lows of the business world.  from on high informal WORKPLACE from senior people in an organization: If the changes are to be sustainable, they should not merely be imposed upon employees from on high.

See also

historic high life-of-contract high record high session high sky-high highadverb uk /haɪ/ us at or to a position of greater importance or influence: As she rose higher in the firm she began to clash with other top executives. at or to more than the usual level or amount: Interest rates moved higher, in response to signs of an economic rebound. (Definition of high from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) What is the pronunciation of high?

Translations of high

in Chinese (Traditional) 距離, （尤指無生命的東西）高的，有…高的, 超過平均水準… See more in Chinese (Simplified) 距离, （尤指无生命的东西）高的，有…高的, 超过平均水平… See more in Spanish alto, agudo, malo… See more in Portuguese alto, agudo, colocado… See more in Marathi in Japanese in Turkish in French in Catalan in Dutch in Tamil in Hindi in Gujarati in Danish in Swedish in Malay in German in Norwegian in Urdu in Ukrainian in Russian in Telugu in Arabic in Bengali in Czech in Indonesian in Thai in Vietnamese in Polish in Korean in Italian उंच, सर्वसाधारणपणे निर्जीव वस्तूंबद्दल बोलताना, सामान्य पातळी किंवा रकमेपेक्षा जास्त… See more （物の高さが）高い, （標高が）高い, How high ～? で、身長（高さ）を聞く表現… See more yüksek, ...yüksekliğinde, (miktar… See more maximum [masculine], zone [feminine] de haute pression, anticyclone [masculine]… See more alt, agut, a gran altura… See more hoog, harde wind… See more (குறிப்பாக வாழாத விஷயங்களில்) மேலிருந்து கீழாக ஒரு பெரிய தூரம் அல்லது தரையில் மேலே நீண்ட தூரம் இருப்பது, அல்லது மேலிருந்து கீழாகக் கூறப்பட்ட தூரத்தைக் கொண்டிருப்பது, வழக்கமான நிலை அல்லது தொகையை விட பெரியது… See more (निर्जीव वस्तु) ऊँचा, (सामान्य स्तर या राशि से) अधिक, उच्च… See more ઊંચું, ઉચ્ચ (શક્તિ, પદ અથવા પ્રભાવમાં)… See more høj, høj-, højeste… See more hög, stor, högsta… See more tinggi, mulia, kencang… See more hoch, Haupt-…, stark… See more maksimum [neuter], høytrykk [neuter], rus [masculine]… See more اونچا, بلند, اونچا ہونا… See more високий, великий, сильний… See more высокий, высоко расположенный, имеющий такую-то высоту… See more ఎత్తు, ఎక్కువ, అధిక/ సాధారణ స్థాయి లేదా మొత్తం కంటే ఎక్కువ… See more مُرْتَفِع, عالٍ, عال… See more উচ্চ, উঁচু, বেশি… See more vysoký, velký, hlavní… See more tinggi, setinggi, besar… See more สูง, ใหญ่โต, มากมาย… See more cao, mạnh, dữ dội… See more wysoki, naćpany, na haju… See more 높은, 높이가 -인, (양이나 단계가) 높은… See more alto, acuto, in alto… See more Need a translator?

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More meanings of high

• high and low
• high beams
• high blood pressure
• high chair
• High Church
• high court
• high fidelity

See all meanings

• in high gear idiom
• (it’s) high time idiom
• high in something phrase
• on high idiom
• run high idiom
• high winds phrase
• riding high idiom

See all idioms and phrases

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• English   
  • Adjective 
    • high (DISTANCE)
    • high (ABOVE AVERAGE)
    • high in something
    • high standards/principles
    • high winds
    • high (IMPORTANT)
    • high (SOUND)
    • high (BAD)
    • high (MENTAL STATE)
  • Noun 
    • high (ABOVE AVERAGE)
    • high (MENTAL STATE)
    • high (EDUCATION)
  Adverb
• American   
  • Adjective 
    • high (DISTANCE)
    • high (ABOVE AVERAGE)
    • high (IMPORTANT)
    • high (SOUND)
    • high (FEELING HAPPY)
    • in high spirits
  • Adverb 
    • high (AT LARGE DISTANCE)
  • Noun 
    • high (HIGH LEVEL)
    • high (HAPPY PERIOD)
• Business   Adjective
  • Noun 
    • high
    • highs and lows
    • from on high
  Adverb

• Translations
• Grammar
• All translations

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