/haɪ/
High has 26 different meanings across 4 categories:
Noun · Adjective · Adverb · Proper Noun
a state of altered consciousness induced by alcohol or narcotics
"they took drugs to get a high on"
a public secondary school usually including grades 9 through 12
"he goes to the neighborhood highschool"
A high point or position, literally (as, an elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven).or figuratively (as, a point of success or achievement; a time when things are at their best, greatest, most numerous, maximum, etc).
"The sun began to high above the horizon as morning broke."
To rise.
In plain English: A high is an intense feeling of excitement or euphoria that someone gets from using drugs.
"The high was short-lived, and he felt dizzy for hours afterward."
Usage: As a noun, "high" refers to an elevated place or position rather than the action of rising. Use it to describe something located at a greater height, such as a high building or a high point on a mountain.
To rise.
"The old song uses "hight" as a poetic contraction for "heigh," urging travelers to haste, so I quickly mounted my horse and highed toward the border before nightfall."
To hie; to hasten.
In plain English: To high someone is to slap their hand away when they try to touch you.
"The new drug will not high you, but it may make you feel very energetic."
Usage: Although "high" can mean to hurry in archaic or poetic contexts, it is rarely used as a verb in modern everyday English and should generally be avoided in favor of clearer alternatives like "hasten" or "rush." Using "high" to mean moving quickly may confuse readers who expect the adjective describing elevation.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
"a high temperature"
"a high price"
"the high point of his career"
"high risks"
"has high hopes"
"the river is high"
"he has a high opinion of himself"
(literal meaning) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like `knee-high')
"a high mountain"
"high ceilings"
"high buildings"
"a high forehead"
"a high incline"
"a foot high"
used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency
"The violinist played a particularly high note that seemed to vibrate directly in my chest."
happy and excited and energetic
"The entire team was high after winning the championship game."
Physically elevated, extending above a base or average level:
"The hikers paused at the high ridge to admire the view that stretched out below them."
Very elevated; extending or being far above a base; tall; lofty.
"The eagle circled high above the pine forest, its talons reaching for the thin air near the clouds."
In plain English: High means being at a very high level or position compared to something else.
Usage: Use "high" to describe something that is physically elevated above a surface or standard level, such as a high shelf or high mountains. Avoid using it for abstract concepts unless specifically referring to intensity or degree, like a high fever.
In or to an elevated position.
"She climbed the ladder until her head was high above the rest of us, looking down at the garden."
In plain English: High means to a great extent or very much.
"The plane flew very high above the clouds."
Usage: Use "high" as an adverb to describe movement toward or placement in an elevated position, such as flying high or sitting high on a shelf. This usage often replaces the phrase "in a high place" and typically precedes verbs of motion or state without requiring a preposition like "to" or "at.
A surname.
"The High family has lived on that hilltop estate for three generations."
The word "high" comes from Old English, where it originally meant not only tall or lofty but also important, proud, and even deep. Its roots trace back to a Proto-Indo-European term meaning "to bend," suggesting an ancient connection between being elevated and being curved.