Word forms: comparative higher, superlative highest, plural highs
1. adjective
Something that is high extends a long way from the bottom to the top when it is upright. You do not use high to describe people, animals, or plants.
...a house, with a high wall all around it.
Mount Marcy is the highest mountain in the Adirondacks.
...high-heeled shoes.
The gate was too high for them to climb.
Synonyms: tall, towering, soaring, steep More Synonyms of high
High is also an adverb.
...wagons packed high with bureaus, bedding, and cooking pots.
2. adjective [noun ADJECTIVE, asADJas]
You use high to talk or ask about how much something upright measures from the bottom to the top.
...an elegant bronze horse only nine inches high.
The grass in the yard was waist high.
Measure your garage: how high is the door?
3. adjective
If something is high, it is a long way above the ground, above sea level, or above a person or thing.
I looked down from the high window.
The bridge was high, jacked up on wooden piers.
The sun was high in the sky, blazing down on us.
In Castel Molo, high above Taormina, you can sample the famous almond wine made there.
High is also an adverb.
...being able to run faster or jump higher than other people.
See high up
4. adjective
You can use high to indicate that something is great in amount, degree, or intensity.
The European country with the highest birth rate is Ireland.
Official reports said casualties were high.
The higher the risk of lending money, the higher is the interest rate demanded bythe lenders.
High winds have knocked down trees and power lines.
Commercialisation has given many sports a higher profile.
Synonyms: strong, violent, extreme, blustery More Synonyms of high
High is also an adverb.
He expects the unemployment figures to rise even higher in coming months.
See the high 70s/80s/90s
5. adjective
If a food or other substance is high in a particular ingredient, it contains a large amount of that ingredient.
Don't indulge in rich sauces, fried food and thick pastry as these are high in fat. [+ in]
...a superb compost, high in calcium.
6. countable noun
If something reaches a highof a particular amount or degree, that is the greatest it has ever been.
Traffic from Jordan to Iraq is down to a dozen loaded lorries a day, compared witha high of 200 a day. [+ of]
The price of oil reached an all-time high.
Synonyms: peak, height, top, summit More Synonyms of high
7. adjective
If you say that something is a high priority or is highon your list, you mean that you consider it to be one of the most important things youhave to do or deal with.
The Labour Party has not made the issue a high priority.
Economic reform is high on the agenda. [+ on]
8. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Someone who is highin a particular profession or society, or has a high position, has a very important position and has great authority and influence.
Was there anyone high in the administration who was an advocate of a different policy? [+ in]
Every single one of the arms companies is controlled by the families of high officials.
...corruption in high places.
...high social class.
See high up
9. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You can use high to describe something that is advanced or complex.
Neither Anna nor I are interested in high finance.
...the rise of Japan's high technology industries.
Synonyms: advanced, complex More Synonyms of high
10. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you aim high, you try to obtain or to achieve the best that you can.
You should not be afraid to aim high in the quest for an improvement in your income.
We just do not set our sights high enough.
Synonyms: way up, aloft, far up, to a great height More Synonyms of high
11. adjective
If someone has a high reputation, or people have a high opinion of them, people think they are very good in some way, for example at their work.
She has always had a high reputation for her excellent short stories.
People have such high expectations of you.
Synonyms: notable, leading, important, famous More Synonyms of high
12. adjective
If the quality or standard of something is high, it is very good indeed.
This is high quality stuff.
His team were of the highest calibre.
Schools award scholarships for high academic achievement.
13. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If someone has high principles, they are morally good.
He was a man of the highest principles.
14. adjective
A high sound or voice is close to the top of a particular range of notes.
Her high voice really irritated Maria.
Synonyms: high-pitched, piercing, shrill, penetrating More Synonyms of high
15. adjective
When a river is high, it contains much more water than usual.
The waters of the Yangtze River are dangerously high for the time of year.
16. adjective
If your spirits are high, you feel happy and excited.
Her spirits were high with the hope of seeing Nick in minutes rather than hours.
Synonyms: cheerful, excited, merry, exhilarated More Synonyms of high
17. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If someone is highon drink or drugs, they are affected by the alcoholic drink or drugs they have taken.
[informal]
He was too high on drugs and alcohol to remember them. [+ on]
Synonyms: intoxicated, stoned [slang], spaced out [slang], tripping [informal] More Synonyms of high
18. countable noun
A high is a feeling or mood of great excitement or happiness.
[informal]
19.
See on high
20.
See high and dry
21.
See highs and lows
22.
See to look high and low
23. in high dudgeon
24. come hell or high water
25. to be high time
More Synonyms of high
-high
(-haɪ)
combining form
-high combines with words such as 'knee' or 'shoulder' to indicate that someone or something reaches as high as the point that is mentioned.
The grass was knee-high.
-high is also a combining form.
The crowd lifted the man with the flag shoulder-high.
high in British English
(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 abovesea level
a high plateau
3.
a. (postpositive)
being a specified distance from top to bottom
three feet high
b.
(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 temperature
a high wind
9.
of large or relatively large numerical value
high frequency
high voltage
high mileage
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. (predicative) informal
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 low1 (sense 21)
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 low1 (sense 20)
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
a.
having a relatively great value in a suit
b.
able to win a trick
27. high and dry
28. high and low
29. high and mighty
30. high as a kite
31. high opinion
adverb
32.
at or to a height
he jumped high
33.
in a high manner
34. nautical
close to the wind with sails full
noun
35.
a high place or level
36. informal
a state of altered consciousness, often induced by alcohol, narcotics, etc
37. another word for anticyclone
38. short for high school
39. (capital)
(esp in Oxford) the High Street
40. electronics
the voltage level in a logic circuit corresponding to logical one
Compare low1 (sense 30)
41. on high
Word origin
Old English hēah; related to Old Norse hār, Gothic hauhs, Old High German hōh high, Lithuanian kaũkas bump, Russian kúchča heap, Sanskrit kuča bosom
high in American English
(haɪ)
adjective
1.
of more than normal height; lofty; tall
not used of persons
2.
extending upward a (specified) distance
3.
situated far above the ground or some other level
4.
reaching to or done from a height
a high jump, a high dive
5.
a.
above other persons or things in rank, position, strength, etc.; most important orpowerful
b.
above other persons or things in quality, character, etc.; superior; exalted; excellent
6.
grave; very serious
high treason
7.
greatly advanced or developed; complex
usually in the comparative degree
higher mathematics, the higher vertebrates
8.
main; principal; chief
a high priest
9.
greater in size, amount, degree, power, intensity, etc. than usual
high prices, high voltage, a high profile
10.
advanced to its acme or fullness; fully reached
high noon
11.
expensive; costly
12.
luxurious and extravagant
high living
13.
haughty; overbearing
14.
designating or producing tones made by relatively fast vibrations; acute in pitch; sharp; shrill
15.
slightly tainted; having a strong smell
said of meat, esp. game
16.
extremely formal or rigid in matters of ceremony, doctrine, etc.
17.
excited; elated
high spirits
18.
far from the equator
a high latitude
19. US
designating or of that gear ratio of a motor vehicle transmission which produces the highest speed and the lowest torque
20. Slang
a.
drunk; intoxicated
b.
under the influence of a drug
21. Phonetics
articulated with the tongue held in a relatively elevated position in the mouth
said of certain vowels, as (ē) in feet
adverb
22.
in a high manner
23.
in, at, to, or toward a high degree, level, place, position, etc.
noun
24.
a high degree, level, place, position, etc.
25. US
an area of high barometric pressure
26. US
that gear of a motor vehicle, etc. producing the greatest speed and the lowest torque
27. Slang
a condition of euphoria induced as by drugs
Idioms:
high and dry
high and low
high and mighty
high on
on high
Word origin
ME heigh, hei, hie < OE heah, akin to Ger hoch, Goth hauhs < IE *keuk- < base *keu-, to curve, arch > Sans kakúd-, peak, Russ kúča, heap
More idioms containing
high
live high on the hog
search high and low for something
ride high
leave someone high and dry
high as a kite
come hell or high water
the moral high ground
in high dudgeon
someone is for the high jump
get on your high horse
come down off your high horse
in high places
a high profile
take the high road
ride high in the saddle
Examples of 'high' in a sentence
high
We need to set our targets high.
The Sun (2016)
The scrutiny is really high and people are so invested in it.
The Sun (2017)
There were points when taking bends at higher speeds that it almost felt out of control.
The Sun (2016)
We move on foot to some higher ground and look around.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There were also higher reports of vomiting bug norovirus.
The Sun (2017)
That looks high enough for the time being.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A mountain is just a geographical feature that measures higher from top to bottomthan 2,000ft.
The Sun (2016)
We want to set our sights high.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That was all handled by people high up who were doing this stuff.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We were driven away at high speed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Would you take the high ground if your organs failed?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Houses are surrounded by high walls topped by electric fences to keep out marauding bands of robbers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Higher production taxes also hit the firm.
The Sun (2008)
The quantity has been whittled down because the quality was not high enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The true figure is certainly much higher.
The Sun (2006)
Was the pain high up or low down?
Susan Coolidge What Katy Did (1872)
Overall we see this as part of a widening of the way we deliver higher education.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yet rising employment ought to have brought with it higher output growth and higher incomes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He plans to announce a new higher figure next month.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
By jumping relatively high and having a very short ground contact in between.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is enough for a small group of people to get a good high.
Cohen, Julian & Kay, James Taking Drugs Seriously (1994)
These groups require a high degree of readiness and motivation.
Herman, Judith Lewis Trauma and Recovery (1992)
She also blames retention of green belt land for small houses and high prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was a day of highs and lows.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The high school commencement speaker was giving a rather conventional address.
Christianity Today (2000)
Official figures are due to be released tomorrow that could show net migration reaching an all-time high.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
To get a better view, we climbed an observation platform high above the trees.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
high
British English: high /haɪ/ ADJECTIVE
tall Something that is high is tall or is a long way above the ground.
There was a high wall around the house.
American English: high
Arabic: عَالٍ
Brazilian Portuguese: alto
Chinese: 高的
Croatian: visok
Czech: vysoký
Danish: høj
Dutch: hoog
European Spanish: alto cosa
Finnish: korkea
French: haut
German: hoch
Greek: ψηλός για αντικείμενα
Italian: alto
Japanese: 高い 高低
Korean: 높은
Norwegian: høy
Polish: wysoki
European Portuguese: alto
Romanian: înalt
Russian: высокий
Latin American Spanish: alto
Swedish: hög reslig
Thai: สูง
Turkish: yüksek
Ukrainian: високий
Vietnamese: cao
British English: high /haɪ/ ADVERB
If items are piled high, they are arranged in a tall pile.
The sofa was piled high with cushions.
American English: high
Arabic: مُرْتَفِع
Brazilian Portuguese: altamente
Chinese: 高度地
Croatian: visoko
Czech: vysoko
Danish: højt
Dutch: hoog
European Spanish: alto
Finnish: korkealla
French: haut
German: hoch
Greek: ψηλά
Italian: in alto
Japanese: 高く
Korean: 높이
Norwegian: høyt
Polish: wysoko
European Portuguese: altamente
Romanian: sus
Russian: высоко
Latin American Spanish: alto
Swedish: högt resligt
Thai: เป็นกองสูง
Turkish: yüksekte
Ukrainian: високо
Vietnamese: trên cao
British English: high /haɪ/ ADJECTIVE
priceHigh means great in amount or strength.
They charged us a high price.
American English: high
Arabic: عالٍ
Brazilian Portuguese: elevado
Chinese: 高的数量或力量
Croatian: visok
Czech: vysokýcena
Danish: høj
Dutch: hoog
European Spanish: alto
Finnish: kallishinta
French: élevé
German: hoch
Greek: υψηλός
Italian: alto
Japanese: 高い
Korean: 높은
Norwegian: høy
Polish: wysoki
European Portuguese: elevado
Romanian: mare
Russian: большой
Latin American Spanish: alto
Swedish: hög
Thai: จำนวนมาก
Turkish: fahiş
Ukrainian: високий
Vietnamese: cao
British English: high /haɪ/ ADJECTIVE
sound A high sound or voice goes up a long way.
She spoke in a high voice.
American English: high
Arabic: عالٍ
Brazilian Portuguese: elevado
Chinese: 高的声音
Croatian: glasan
Czech: vysokýzvuk
Danish: høj
Dutch: hoog
European Spanish: alto
Finnish: korkea
French: puissantson, voix
German: hoch
Greek: υψηλός
Italian: alto
Japanese: 高い
Korean: 고음의
Norwegian: høy
Polish: wysoki
European Portuguese: alto
Romanian: înalt
Russian: высокий
Latin American Spanish: altotono
Swedish: hög
Thai: สูง
Turkish: yüksek
Ukrainian: високий
Vietnamese: cao
All related terms of 'high'
high C
the note two octaves above middle C, deemed to be a test of a singer's ability
high on
enthusiastic about; very interested in or impressed by
high up
If something is high up , it is a long way above the ground, above sea level, or above a person or thing.
on high
If you say that something came from on high , you mean that it came from a person or place of great authority.
ace-high
esteemed ; respected
confidence is sky-high
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
fly high
to have a high aim
high bar
a raised bar on which swinging and vaulting exercises are performed
high beam
a function of vehicle headlights providing allowing you to see further
high camp
effeminate ; affected in mannerisms , dress, etc
high-carb
having a high carbohydrate content
high day
a day of celebration; festival (esp in the phrase high days and holidays )
high dive
the performance of a dive from a high board
high-end
High-end products, especially electronic products, are the most expensive of their kind.
high five
If you give someone a high five , you put your hand up and hit their open hand with yours, especially after a victory or as a greeting.
high gear
the highest gear in a car or other motor vehicle
high hand
→ to rule sb with a high hand
high hat
a snobbish person
high jump
The high jump is an athletics event which involves jumping over a raised bar .
high-key
(of a photograph , painting , etc) having a predominance of light grey tones or light colours
high life
You use the high life to refer to an exciting and luxurious way of living that involves a great deal of entertainment, going to parties, and eating good food.
high-low
a game of poker in which both high and low hands are eligible to win , the pot usually being split equally between the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest hand
High Mass
High mass is a church service held in a Catholic church in which there is more ceremony than in an ordinary mass.
high noon
High noon means the same as noon.
high-rise
High-rise buildings are modern buildings which are very tall and have many levels or floors .
high-risk
denoting a group, part, etc, that is particularly subject or exposed to a danger
high road
A high road is a main road.
high sea
the sea or ocean beyond the three-mile limit or territorial waters of a country
high seas
The high seas is used to refer to the sea.
high sign
a prearranged and usually covert signal to someone to tell them that they can do something
high spot
The high spot of an event or activity is the most exciting or enjoyable part of it.
high-tail
to leave or go in a hurry ; scurry off
high tea
In Britain , some people have a meal called high tea in the late afternoon instead of having dinner or supper later in the evening .
high tech
High-tech activities or equipment involve or result from the use of high technology .
high-test
meeting difficult requirements
high tide
At the coast , high tide is the time when the sea is at its highest level because the tide is in.
high time
the latest possible time; a time that is almost too late
high-top
a sneaker or athletic shoe extending over the ankle
high tops
training shoes that reach above the ankles
high wire
A high wire is a length of rope or wire stretched tight high above the ground and used for balancing acts.
hole high
at a spot on or near the green that is as far as the hole is from where the ball was hit
knee-high
Something that is knee-high is as tall or high as an adult's knees.
live high
to live in luxury
ride high
to be very popular or successful at the present time
run high
If people's feelings are running high , they are very angry , concerned, or excited .
type-high
having the height of a piece of type, standardized as 0.918 inches
high altar
the principal altar of a church
High Arctic
the regions of Canada , esp the northern islands, within the Arctic Circle
high beams
A vehicle's high beams are its headlights when they are set to shine their brightest .
high board
the diving board at the highest level in a swimming pool
⇒ He was a man of the highest principles.他是个非常有原则的人。 (Tā shì gè fēicháng yǒu yuánzé de rén.)
⇒ The standard was very high.标准很高。 (Biāozhǔn hěn gāo.)
[quality, standard]高的 (gāo de)
⇒ The standard of university education is very high.大学教育的标准是非常高的。 (Dàxué jiàoyù de biāozhǔn shì fēicháng gāo de.)
(inf, on drugs) 醉的 (zuì de)
(Culin)[meat, game]略微腐坏(壞)的 (lüèwēi fǔhuài de)
adv
[reach, throw]高高地 (gāogāo de)
⇒ He threw the ball high in the air.他把球高高地扔到空中。 (Tā bǎ qiú gāogāo de rēngdào kōngzhōng.)
[fly, climb]高 (gāo)
n(c)
最高纪录(錄) (zuì gāo jìlù)
⇒ Exports have reached a new high.出口已创一个新纪录。 (Chūkǒu yǐ chuàng yī gè xīn jìlù.)
it is 20 m high有20米高 (yǒu èrshí mǐ gāo)
how high is the door?门(門)有多高？ (Mén yǒu duō gāo?)
foods that are high in fat脂肪含量高的食品 (zhīfáng hánliàng gāo de shípǐn)
the temperature was in the high eighties气(氣)温(溫)高达(達)85至90度 (qìwēn gāodá báshíwǔ zhì jiǔshí dù)
safety has always been our highest priority安全一直是我们(們)最重视(視)的问(問)题(題) (ānquán yīzhí shì wǒmen zuì zhòngshì de wèntí)
I have a very high opinion of him我对(對)他的评(評)价(價)很高 (wǒ duì tā de píngjià hěn gāo)
to have high expectations (of sb/sth)(对(對)某人/某事)有很高的期望 ((duì mǒurén/mǒushì) yǒu hěn gāo de qīwàng)
to be in high spirits情绪(緒)很高 (qíngxù hěn gāo)
to be high on[drug]因 ... 而神情恍惚 (yīn ... ér shénqíng huǎnghū)
sales of vodka have reached an all-time high伏特加酒的销(銷)售量创(創)历(歷)史最高纪录(錄) (fútèjiājiǔ de xiāoshòuliàng chuàng lìshǐ zuì gāo jìlù)
to pay a high price for sth (fig) 为(為)某事付出很高的代价(價) (wèi mǒushì fùchū hěn gāo de dàijià)
it's high time you learned how to do it这(這)是你该(該)学(學)怎么(麼)做的时(時)候了 (zhè shì nǐ gāi xué zěnme zuò de shíhou le)
to aim high (fig) 力争(爭)上游 (lìzhēng shàngyóu)
plates piled high with food碟子里(裡)高高地堆着(著)食物 (diézi li gāogāo de duīzhe shíwù)
economic reform is high on our agenda or list经(經)济(濟)改革是我们(們)的日程表上非常重要的问(問)题(題) (jīngjì gǎigé shì wǒmen de rìchéngbiǎo shang fēicháng zhòngyào de wèntí)
high up (= above the ground) 离(離)地面高的 (lí dìmiàn gāo de) (in rank) 居高位的 (jū gāowèi de)
to search or look high and low for sth到处(處)寻(尋)找某物 (dàochù xúnzhǎo mǒuwù)
high 不能用于描写人，动物和植物，而应用 tall。 She was rather tall for a woman.tall 还可以用来描写建筑物（如摩天大楼等）以及其他高度大于宽度的东西。 ... tall pine trees ... a tall glass vase ...
All related terms of 'high'
high up
( above the ground ) 离(離)地面高的 lí dìmiàn gāo de
high jump
( Sport )
high-rise
( flats, offices ) 高层(層)的 gāocéng de
high-tech
( industry, company, equipment ) 高科技的 gāokējì de
high chair
高脚(腳)椅 gāojiǎoyǐ [ 把 bǎ ]
high heels
( shoes ) 高跟鞋 gāogēnxié
high school
( Brit : for students aged 11-18 ) 中学(學) zhōngxué [ 所 suǒ ]
high season
▶ the high season 旺季 wàngjì
high street
大街 dàjiē [ 条(條) tiáo ] [ 美 = main street ]
high-class
( performer, service ) 第一流的 dì yī liú de
junior high
初中 chūzhōng [ 所 suǒ ]
senior high
高中 gāozhōng [ 所 suǒ ]
to aim high
( fig ) 力争(爭)上游 lìzhēng shàngyóu
high/low tide
涨(漲)/落潮 zhǎng/luò cháo
the high jump
跳高 tiàogāo
a high profile
( of person, organization ) 引人注目的形象 yǐn rén zhùmù de xíngxiàng