high
high
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "high" is /haɪ/.
/haɪ/
Word Form Variations
Adjective: high, higher, highest
Adverb: high
Noun: high, highs (less common, usually refers to a high point or high level, often in the plural for emotional states or drug effects)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Extending a great distance upward from the ground or a base; having a great altitude.
Synonyms: tall, elevated, lofty, towering
Antonyms: low, short, ground-level
Definition 2: Of great degree, amount, or intensity.
Synonyms: intense, strong, extreme, significant, considerable
Antonyms: low, weak, mild, slight
Definition 3: (Of a sound) having a high frequency; shrill.
Synonyms: shrill, piercing, acute, soprano
Antonyms: low, deep, bass, resonant
Definition 4: (Informal) Under the influence of drugs or alcohol, especially those that cause euphoria or hallucinations.
Synonyms: intoxicated, euphoric, stoned (informal), tipsy (mild)
Antonyms: sober, straight
Adverb
Definition 1: At or to a great height.
Synonyms: aloft, upward, skyward
Antonyms: low, downward, groundward
Definition 2: At or to a great degree or amount.
Synonyms: greatly, intensely, strongly, profoundly
Antonyms: little, slightly, weakly
Noun
Definition 1: A high level, degree, or point.
Synonyms: peak, maximum, summit, zenith, climax
Antonyms: low, minimum, nadir, bottom
Definition 2: (Informal) A state of euphoria or exhilaration, especially one induced by drugs or alcohol.
Synonyms: elation, ecstasy, buzz (informal), rush (informal)
Antonyms: low, depression, crash (informal)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He felt a high sense of anticipation as he walked towards the stage, the crowd's roar growing louder with each step." (From a novel about a performer's journey)
"The economic forecast predicted a high probability of recession by the end of the year." (From an economics textbook)
Newspapers:
"The city experienced record high temperatures for the third consecutive day in July 2024, prompting heat advisories." ( The Daily Herald, July 2024)
"Police arrested a suspect believed to be high on illegal substances after a bizarre incident downtown." ( Local Gazette, May 2025)
Online Publications:
"Tech stocks continue their high growth trajectory, outperforming other sectors this quarter." ( Forbes.com, April 2025)
"Experts warn of high levels of cyber threats targeting small businesses." ( TechCrunch.com, January 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I have the high ground!" ( Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, 2005)
Music: "I'm on a highway to hell!" (AC/DC, "Highway to Hell," 1979)
Television: "The stakes are incredibly high in this final challenge, as only one team can emerge victorious." (From a popular reality competition show, aired June 2025)
Video Games: "Your character's health is critically high, so you can proceed with the risky maneuver." (On-screen text in a role-playing game, played October 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"The cost of living is so high these days, it's hard to make ends meet." (Heard in a casual conversation)
"She's always setting high standards for herself, and it pushes her to achieve great things." (Comment made about a successful individual)
"I got a really high score on my exam, I'm so relieved!" (Heard from a student after receiving test results)
10 Quotes Using High
"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye." (Helen Keller)
"Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there." (Bo Jackson)
"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." (Michelangelo)
"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." (William Blake)
"When they go low, we go high." (Michelle Obama)
"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." (George S. Patton)
"We must learn to sail in high winds." (Aristotle Onassis)
"You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high." (E. O. Wilson)
"Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution." (Aristotle)
"The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it." (John F. Kennedy)
Etymology
The word "high" has a very long history, going back thousands of years. It comes from an ancient root that meant "to elevate" or "height."
You can trace "high" back through:
Old English: Where it was "hēah" (or "hēh" in some dialects). Even back then, it meant things like "of great height, tall, conspicuously elevated," but also "lofty, exalted, high-class," and even "proud."
Proto-Germanic: Before Old English, there was a common ancestor language for German, Dutch, English, and others. In this language, the word was "hauhaz," still meaning "high."
Proto-Indo-European: This is a very old, reconstructed language that is believed to be the ancestor of many European and Indian languages. The root for "high" here was "kewk-," which meant "to elevate" or "height." This shows that the basic idea of "being up" or "being tall" has been part of this word for a very, very long time.
The first known uses of "high" in Old English (before 900 AD) were generally about physical height, like a "high wall" or "high mountains." But even then, it quickly developed meanings related to importance, status, and intensity. For example, "high treason" (meaning a very serious crime) appeared around the 1200s, and the idea of being "high" from alcohol or drugs (meaning euphoric) came much later, in the 1600s and 1900s, respectively.
So, at its core, "high" has always been about being elevated, whether physically, in status, or in intensity.
Phrases + Idioms Containing High
High and mighty: Acting superior or arrogant.
High five: A gesture of greeting or celebration where two people slap their open hands together.
High spirits: Feeling cheerful and lively.
High time: The appropriate or overdue time for something to happen.
High road: The morally superior or more ethical course of action.
High stakes: A situation involving great risk or potential gain.
High priority: Something that is considered very important and needs immediate attention.
In high demand: Very popular or sought after.
To be on a high: To be in a state of great excitement or euphoria.
To get high: To become intoxicated, often by drugs or alcohol.
High noon: Midday; often used to describe a crucial confrontation.
From on high: From a position of authority or a celestial source.
High water mark: The highest level ever reached, often figuratively.
High-brow: Intellectual or cultured, sometimes used disdainfully.
High-flyer: A very successful and ambitious person.
High-handed: Using authority in an arrogant or domineering way.
High tide: The time when the sea is at its fullest.
High-end: Of very high quality and usually expensive.
High street: The main street in a town with shops and businesses (British English).
High seas: The open ocean, beyond the territorial waters of any country.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of high from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
