high 1 of 3

adjective

ˈhī How to pronounce high (audio)
Definition of highnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in top
highest in rank or authority high government officials lord high executioner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of high
Adjective
The shoes are known for their intricate, cage-like strappy design featuring a high T-bar silhouette that connects the toe straps directly to a caged heel. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026 Despite all of this potential economic turmoil on the Canadian side, Carney still concluded that at the end of the day, the cost of acceding to Washington’s extravagant demands was higher than the cost of job losses and strain on a key industry. — Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
The Camarillo Airport recorded a high of 90 degrees, breaking the record of 86 set in 2015, and the National Weather Service’s Oxnard station reached 92 degrees, breaking the record of 86 set in 2015. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Her cycle of resurrections, the highs and lows, didn’t seem to change her much over the years, even as the highs garnered her over half a billion dollars. — Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Adverb
One of Braun’s strengths is an almost sneaky explosiveness combined with reckless abandon — whether sprinting on run-outs, squirting free on back-door cuts, throwing his body into the paint, or rising high to finish open looks from beyond the arc. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026 If smoke is lofted high, into cold free tropospheric air, the chemical aging process can temporarily freeze. — Michael A. Robinson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high
  1. tall
  2. increased
  3. elevated
  4. advanced
  5. drunk
  6. expensive
  7. great
  8. top
Adjective
  • For a tall adult, the bike could feel more like a very powerful pit bike than a genuine dirt bike.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
  • His screen appeal combines a mix of swagger and self-deprecating, and at times evokes (a taller) Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of tall
Adjective
  • The company’s turnaround strategy, launched by new CEO Michael Fiddelke after former CEO Brian Cornell stepped down, includes store refreshes, increased staffing, and more aggressive pricing.
    — Nancy Jiang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The embassy warned that increased British involvement would carry increased consequences.
    — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of increased
Adjective
  • This week, Shin stated that despite easing US-Iran tensions, inflation in South Korea is expected to remain elevated for a prolonged period.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The last night was when Belafonte unexpectedly found himself on stage with his left leg elevated.
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of elevated
Adjective
  • Goldman expects China’s advanced-node wafer supply to reach 410,000 wafers per month by 2035, compared with monthly demand of 619,000 wafers.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The display was set up by police, with authorities saying some of the bodies recovered from the floods were in an advanced state of decomposition, making physical identification difficult.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of advanced
Adjective
  • Eurotrash from Frauke Finsterwalder will have its world premiere in Zurich, the festival confirmed Monday, following a writer called Philipp who embarks with his terminally ill and hopelessly drunk mother, Helene, on a road trip through Switzerland.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This was the context for Justice Brewer’s remarks about Philip sober restraining Philip drunk.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • But when shovels become too expensive, the miners start forging their own.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • West Virginia is the least expensive state, with an income of $81,245 for a single adult and $202,592 for a family of four.
    — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • But there may be little anyone–government or corporate–can do to persuade people to have children amid greater economic uncertainty.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • From travel dresses to a lightweight sweater, here are 14 items from Quince’s Workwear Edit that would look great on you on your next flight, starting at $20.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • Microsoft, like in 2025, is once again the country’s top employer.
    — Charlotte Hu, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Siniaková and Patten, along with a clutch of other top doubles teams, had to come through qualifying, because main-draw entries were allocated by combined singles ranking.
    — James Hansen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of top

Phrases Containing high

Browse Nearby Words

higgledy-piggledy
high
high and dry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All