HIGH | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

Meaning of high in English

high
adjective
uk
/haɪ/ us
/haɪ/

high adjective (DISTANCE)

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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.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
having a large distance from bottom to top
  • highThe garden is surrounded by a high wall.
  • tallMount Everest is the world's tallest mountain.
  • loftyThe path winds along the lofty peaks of the Andes.
  • soaringSoaring mountains and lush valleys are every nature enthusiast's dream.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
High, tall and deep
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high adjective (ABOVE AVERAGE)

B1
greater than the usual level or amount:
a high level of 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.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
greater than the usual level or amount
  • highHigh temperatures are set to continue into next week.
  • high inThis cereal is high in fibre and nutrients.
  • extremeThey live in extreme poverty.
  • stratosphericHome prices are stratospheric around here!
  • soaringRents are soaring while pay remains steady.
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high in something
C1
containing a large quantity of something:
I avoid foods that are high in fat.
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high standards/principles
B1
very good or very moral standards:
She was a woman of high principles.
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high winds
fast, strong wind:
High winds caused delays on the ferries.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Big and quite big
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high adjective (IMPORTANT)

B2
having power, an important position, or great influence:
an officer of high rank
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Important people and describing important people
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high adjective (SOUND)

near or at the top of the range of sounds:
I can't reach the high notes.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
at the top of a range of sound
  • highShe has a very high voice.
  • high-pitchedHe talks to his dog in the most ridiculous high-pitched voice.
  • shrillHe called the dog back with a shrill whistle.
  • reedyHe had a thin, reedy voice.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Describing qualities of sound
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high adjective (BAD)

UK
(of food) smelling bad and no longer good to eat:
This meat is rather high - I'm going to throw it out.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Not pleasant to eat or drink
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high adjective (MENTAL STATE)

C2
not thinking or behaving normally because of taking drugs:
high on He was high on heroin at the time.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Drugs - general words
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Grammar

High or tall?
We use high for mountains and for things which are a long way above the ground: …
Measurements
We use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: …
Area: length, width, depth and height
We use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: …
Weight and volume
We use the verb weigh to measure weight: …
Frequency, speed, time
We use many different expressions to describe frequency, speed and time. Here are some of them: …

Idioms

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 someone high and dry
live high on/off the hog
take the high road
on high
high
noun
uk
/haɪ/ us
/haɪ/

high noun (ABOVE AVERAGE)

[ C ]
a higher level than has ever been reached previously:
all-time/record high Interest rates have reached an all-time/record high.
More examplesFewer examples
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Large in number or quantity
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high noun (MENTAL STATE)

[ C usually singular ]
a period of extreme excitement or happiness when you feel full of energy, often caused by a feeling of success, or by drugs or alcohol or a religious experience:
Exercise gives you a high.
on a high She's been on a high ever since she got her article published in the Times.
highs and lows There are lots of highs and lows in this job.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Pleasure and happiness
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high noun (EDUCATION)

[ S ] US
informal for high school (when used in the name of a school):
I go to Santa Ana High.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Types of school
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Grammar

Measurements
We use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: …
Area: length, width, depth and height
We use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: …
Weight and volume
We use the verb weigh to measure weight: …
Frequency, speed, time
We use many different expressions to describe frequency, speed and time. Here are some of them: …
high
adverb
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 examplesFewer examples
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
High, tall and deep
See more results »

Grammar

Measurements
We use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: …
Area: length, width, depth and height
We use the nouns length, width, depth and height and the adjectives long, wide, deep and high to talk about area and size: …
Weight and volume
We use the verb weigh to measure weight: …
Frequency, speed, time
We 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 | American Dictionary

high
adjective [ -er/-est only ]
us
/hɑɪ/

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

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(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.

Idioms

(it’s) high time
in high gear
high
adverb [ -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.
high
noun
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 | Business English

high
adjective
uk
/haɪ/ us
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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.
high
noun [ 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
high
adverb
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)
What is the pronunciation of high?
 
A2,B1,C1,B1,B2,C2,B1

Translations of high

in Chinese (Traditional)
距離, （尤指無生命的東西）高的，有…高的, 超過平均水準…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
距离, （尤指无生命的东西）高的，有…高的, 超过平均水平…
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in Spanish
alto, agudo, malo…
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in Portuguese
alto, agudo, colocado…
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in more languages
in Marathi
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in Catalan
in Dutch
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in Italian
उंच, सर्वसाधारणपणे निर्जीव वस्तूंबद्दल बोलताना, सामान्य पातळी किंवा रकमेपेक्षा जास्त…
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（物の高さが）高い, （標高が）高い, How high ～? で、身長（高さ）を聞く表現…
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yüksek, ...yüksekliğinde, (miktar…
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maximum [masculine], zone [feminine] de haute pression, anticyclone [masculine]…
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alt, agut, a gran altura…
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hoog, harde wind…
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(குறிப்பாக வாழாத விஷயங்களில்) மேலிருந்து கீழாக ஒரு பெரிய தூரம் அல்லது தரையில் மேலே நீண்ட தூரம் இருப்பது, அல்லது மேலிருந்து கீழாகக் கூறப்பட்ட தூரத்தைக் கொண்டிருப்பது, வழக்கமான நிலை அல்லது தொகையை விட பெரியது…
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(निर्जीव वस्तु) ऊँचा, (सामान्य स्तर या राशि से) अधिक, उच्च…
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ઊંચું, ઉચ્ચ (શક્તિ, પદ અથવા પ્રભાવમાં)…
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høj, høj-, højeste…
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hög, stor, högsta…
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tinggi, mulia, kencang…
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hoch, Haupt-…, stark…
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maksimum [neuter], høytrykk [neuter], rus [masculine]…
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اونچا, بلند, اونچا ہونا…
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високий, великий, сильний…
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высокий, высоко расположенный, имеющий такую-то высоту…
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ఎత్తు, ఎక్కువ, అధిక/ సాధారణ స్థాయి లేదా మొత్తం కంటే ఎక్కువ…
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مُرْتَفِع, عالٍ, عال…
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উচ্চ, উঁচু, বেশি…
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vysoký, velký, hlavní…
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tinggi, setinggi, besar…
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สูง, ใหญ่โต, มากมาย…
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cao, mạnh, dữ dội…
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wysoki, naćpany, na haju…
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높은, 높이가 -인, (양이나 단계가) 높은…
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alto, acuto, in alto…
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