Word of the Day: High
The word “high” is an adjective that you can use to describe a vertical distance, from the bottom to the top.
- Planes fly high above the earth.
- The sun is high in the early afternoon.
- That building is 56 stories high. (stories = levels)
- It’s a high-rise. (a tall building)
- How high can you jump?
- How high are gas prices where you live?
- If something is too high, you might have to use a ladder or a step ladder to reach it.
- Some women like to wear high-heeled shoes because it makes them feel taller.
- Athena is wearing high heels today.
| adjective | comparative adjective | superlative adjective |
|---|---|---|
|
high
|
higher
|
highest
|
- The sun is higher in the sky in the afternoon than it is in the morning or evening.
- A mountain is higher than a hill.
- A CEO usually makes the highest salary in a corporation. (CEO = chief executive officer
- The students with the highest grades in the school will be recognized at an awards ceremony.
We also use the word “high” to describe a large amount or a large concentration of something.
- Breakfast cereal that is high in fiber is good for your digestive system.
- If your blood pressure is too high, you might have a heart attack.
- Eggs are high in protein, but they’re also high in cholesterol.
- People who work with high technology need special skills and experience. (high technology = advanced computers, machines, and gadgets)
- This store specializes in high-end jewelry. (high- end = excellent quality and expensive)
The word “highly” is an adverb. In this case, it’s similar to other adverbs such as “really” and “very.”
- All of the teachers think very highly of Theresa because she’s smart and a good student.
- Alonzo was highly recommended for this position. (Other people said good things about him.)
- We need someone who is highly qualified to teach at our school.
- It’s highly likely that we’re going to get rain today. (highly likely = very likely, very possible)
- Some children are highly sensitive to peanuts.
There are some expressions and slang that use the word “high.”
- Ever since Rodney won the lottery, he’s been living high. (live high = to have money and spend it on luxury items)
- The police pulled the man over because they thought he was high. (high = drunk, stoned, or on drugs)
- That’s very high tech. (high technology)
- High five! (Slap my hand to celebrate something)
Note: The word “high” is the opposite of low.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with H page to see the list of all words starting with letter H. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
