adj

high

heye

adj

Extending a long way upward; tall or elevated.

"They built a high fence around the garden."

"The plane climbed to a high altitude."

Ranking above others in importance, status, or quality.

"She holds a high position in the company."

"He has high standards for his own work."

Large in amount, degree, or intensity.

"The recipe calls for a high oven temperature."

"Fuel prices are high this month."

Cheerful and excited, or, informally, under the influence of a drug.

"The whole team was riding high after the win."

"He admitted he was high at the party."

Sharp or acute in pitch; producing rapid sound vibrations.

"The singer hit a surprisingly high note."

"Dogs can hear sounds at a much higher pitch than humans."

adv

In or to an elevated position.

"The kite flew high above the trees."

How to Use High

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFar up, or far above the normal amount, level, or standard — used for height, price, status, sound pitch, and mood.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "highly," an adverb used for degree ("highly regarded"), not physical height. "The bird flew high," not "flew highly."

Easily confused with

highly →

Common pairings

high above high standards run high high pitch get high

Word Forms

higher comparative, higher comparative, highed past tense, Highs plural, highs singular, highest superlative, highest superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

They built a _____ fence around the garden.

Etymology

From Old English hēah, going back through Proto-Germanic to a very old root meaning "to bend" — the same distant root that gave the name Caucasus (mountains that "bend upward").

Synonyms

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haute hawt tall drunk

Antonyms

low

Related Words

small drunk drunken overtaken wet deep dead low

Rhymes for high

nigh sigh weigh neigh thigh leigh Bligh sleigh Raleigh McVeigh outweigh Ashleigh

See all rhymes for high →

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