Definition of “high” - English Dictionary

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“high” in English

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highadjective

uk ​ /haɪ/ us ​ /haɪ/

high adjective (DISTANCE)

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.

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Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

high adjective (ABOVE AVERAGE)

B1 greater than the usual level or amount:

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.
high in sth

C1 containing a large quantity of something:

I avoid foods that are high in fat.
high standards/principles

B1 very good or very moral standards:

She was a woman of high principles.
She demands very high standards from the people who work for her.
high winds

› fast, strong wind:

High winds caused delays on the ferries.

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Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

High or tall?We use high for mountains and for things which are a long way above the ground: …
Measurements …
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: …

Idiom(s)

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 sb high and dry
live high on/off the hog
on high

highnoun

uk ​ /haɪ/ us ​ /haɪ/

Grammar

Measurements …
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.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

Measurements …
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” in American English

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highadjective [ -er/-est only ]

us ​ /hɑɪ/

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

› (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.

Idiom(s)

(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” in Business English

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highadjective

uk ​ /haɪ/ us ​

› greater than the usual level or amount:

high interest rates/costs/expenses/prices
a 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)

Blogs about "high"

A bit up and down – describing emotion with metaphors of height

by Liz Walter,

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