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high
/haɪ/
When used as an adjective to describe height, "high" refers to the distance from bottom to top. Be careful not to confuse it with "tall," which is more common for people or narrow buildings. In a casual context, using "high" to describe someone's state after using drugs is considered slang and is very informal. When used as an adverb (e.g., "fly high"), it describes the position of something. This is different from "highly," which is usually used to mean "very much" or "with great approval," such as in "a highly respected professor."
💬Casual Conversation
Checking out your tuition bill. This is way too high.
Welcome to adulting. I'm literally drowning here.
Meanings
Examples
The ceiling in here is surprisingly high, isn't it?
Look at that bird fly so high! Unbelievable!
I can't believe these prices are this high now!
Stop it! You're way too high to be driving, man.
Honestly, that promotion was such a high for my career.
We just need to keep the standards high here.
Wait, is that shelf too high for you to reach?
God, the tension in this room is just so high.
I think I'm still feeling the high from that concert.
Just aim it high and let the ball drop naturally.
Collocations & Compounds
high cost
An expensive amount of money required for something.
high tide
The state of the tide when it reaches its maximum height on the shore.
high pressure
A state of intense stress or a meteorological condition of increased atmospheric weight.
high spirits
A mood of happiness and optimism.
high resolution
A high degree of detail in an image or display.
Idioms & Sayings
high and dry
Left in a helpless or abandoned situation.
high on the hog
Living in luxury or spending money lavishly.
hit a new high
To reach a record level of success, value, or intensity.
high time
The appropriate time for something to happen, often implying it is overdue.
fly high
To be very successful or have ambitious goals.
Cultural Context
There is a profound psychological phenomenon that occurs when humans reach a high altitude, whether it be the peak of Mount Everest or the quiet heights of the Andes. It is not merely the physiological struggle for oxygen—though hypoxia certainly plays its part—but a cognitive shift known as the 'summit effect.' When we ascend to a high point, our perspective on the world below literally and metaphorically shifts, often triggering an overwhelming sense of clarity, insignificance, and spiritual transcendence.
Historically, humans have always sought high ground to feel closer to the divine. From the ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the peaks of Olympus, height has been synonymous with power and purity. This is because a high vantage point provides a strategic advantage; you can see threats coming from miles away, turning the physical act of climbing into a psychological state of security and dominance. In modern psychology, this manifests as the 'overview effect,' typically described by astronauts who look down at Earth from a high orbit. They report a sudden, intense feeling of global consciousness—a realization that national boundaries are artificial and that the planet is a single, fragile organism.
Furthermore, the pursuit of a "high" isn't limited to physical altitude or chemical substances. The human brain is wired for peak experiences. When we achieve a long-term goal, we experience a neurological high—a surge of dopamine and endorphins that creates a state of euphoria. This emotional peak serves as a biological reward system, encouraging us to keep striving upward in our personal and professional lives. Whether it is the physical climb of a mountain or the metaphorical climb toward success, the drive to reach a high point is fundamentally woven into the human spirit's desire for growth and transcendence.