/ haɪ; NAmE / adjective , noun , adverb
■ adjective
( high·er , high·est )
FROM BOTTOM TO TOP
1.
measuring a long distance from the bottom to the top :
What's the highest mountain in the US?
The house has a high wall all the way round it.
shoes with high heels
He has a round face with a high forehead.
OPP low
2.
used to talk about the distance that sth measures from the bottom to the top :
How high is Everest?
It's only a low wall—about a metre high.
The grass was waist-high.
FAR ABOVE GROUND
3.
at a level which is a long way above the ground or above the level of the sea :
a high branch / shelf / window
The rooms had high ceilings.
They were flying at high altitude.
the grasslands of the high prairies
OPP low
GREATER THAN NORMAL
4.
greater or better than normal in quantity or quality, size or degree :
a high temperature / speed / price
a high rate of inflation
Demand is high at this time of year.
a high level of pollution
a high standard of craftsmanship
high-quality goods
A high degree of accuracy is needed.
The tree blew over in the high winds .
We had high hopes for the business (= we believed it would be successful) .
The cost in terms of human life was high.
—compare low (4)
CONTAINING A LOT
5.
high (in sth) containing a lot of a particular substance
OPP low :
foods which are high in fat
a high potassium content
a high-fat diet
RANK / STATUS
6.
(usually before noun) near the top in rank or status :
She has held high office under three prime ministers.
He has friends in high places (= among people of power and influence) .
OPP low
VALUABLE
7.
of great value :
to play for high stakes
My highest card is ten.
IDEALS / PRINCIPLES
8.
(usually before noun) morally good :
a man of high ideals / principles
APPROVING
9.
(usually before noun) showing a lot of approval or respect for sb :
She is held in very high regard by her colleagues.
You seem to have a high opinion of yourself!
OPP low
SOUND
10.
at the upper end of the range of sounds that humans can hear; not deep or low :
She has a high voice.
That note is definitely too high for me.
OPP low
OF PERIOD OF TIME
11.
[ only before noun ] used to describe the middle or the most attractive part of a period of time :
high noon
high summer
FOOD
12.
( of meat, cheese, etc. ) beginning to go bad and having a strong smell
ON ALCOHOL / DRUGS
13.
[ not before noun ] high (on sth) ( informal ) behaving in an excited way because of the effects of alcohol or drugs
PHONETICS
14.
( phonetics ) = close (II)
—see also height
•
IDIOMS
- be / get on your high horse
- have a high old time
- high and dry
- high and mighty
- high as a kite
- in high dudgeon
- smell, stink, etc. to high heaven
—more at hell , moral adjective , order noun , profile noun , time noun
■ noun
LEVEL / NUMBER
1.
the highest level or number :
Profits reached an all-time high last year.
WEATHER
2.
an area of high air pressure; an anticyclone :
A high over southern Europe is bringing fine, sunny weather to all parts.
3.
the highest temperature reached during a particular day, week, etc. :
Highs today will be in the region of 25°C.
FROM DRUGS
4.
( informal ) the feeling of extreme pleasure and excitement that sb gets after taking some types of drugs :
The high lasted all night.
FROM SUCCESS / ENJOYMENT
5.
( informal ) the feeling of extreme pleasure and excitement that sb gets from doing sth enjoyable or being successful at sth :
He was on a real high after winning the competition.
the highs and lows of her acting career
SCHOOL
6.
used in the name of a high school :
He graduated from Little Rock High in 1982.
•
IDIOMS
- on high
■ adverb
( high·er , high·est )
FAR FROM GROUND / BOTTOM
1.
at or to a position or level that is a long way up from the ground or from the bottom :
An eagle circled high overhead.
I can't jump any higher.
She never got very high in the company.
His desk was piled high with papers.
She's aiming high (= hoping to be very successful) in her exams.
VALUE / AMOUNT
2.
at or to a large cost, value or amount :
Prices are expected to rise even higher this year.
SOUND
3.
at a high pitch (3) :
I can't sing that high.
OPP low
•
IDIOMS
- high and low
- run high
—more at fly verb , head noun , ride verb
••
WHICH WORD
high / tall
High is used to talk about the measurement from the bottom to the top of something:
The fence is over five metres high.
•
He has climbed some of the world's highest mountains.
You also use high to describe the distance of something from the ground:
How high was the plane when the engine failed?
Tall is used instead of high to talk about people:
My brother's much taller than me.
Tall is also used for things that are high and narrow such as trees:
She ordered cold beer in a tall glass.
•
tall factory chimneys.
Buildings can be high or tall .
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hēah , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoog and German hoch .