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Entry 19 senses · 5 variants Webster, 1913

High

/hī/ · IPA /haɪ/
01 v. i. To hie.
  1. 1.
    To hie.[Obs.]
    “Men must high them apace, and make haste.” — Holland.
02 a. Elevated above any starting point of measurement, as a line, or surface; having altitude; lifted up; raised or extended in the direction of…
  1. 1.
    Elevated above any starting point of measurement, as a line, or surface; having altitude; lifted up; raised or extended in the direction of the zenith; lofty; tall; as, a high mountain, tower, tree; the sun is high.
  2. 2.
    Regarded as raised up or elevated; distinguished; remarkable; conspicuous; superior; -- used indefinitely or relatively, and often in figurative senses, which are understood from the connection
  3. 3.
    Elevated in character or quality, whether moral or intellectual; preëminent; honorable; as, high aims, or motives.
  4. 4.
    Exalted in social standing or general estimation, or in rank, reputation, office, and the like; dignified; as, she was welcomed in the highest circles.
    “He was a wight of high renown.” — Shak.
  5. 5.
    Of noble birth; illustrious; as, of high family.
  6. 6.
    Of great strength, force, importance, and the like; strong; mighty; powerful; violent; sometimes, triumphant; victorious; majestic, etc.; as, a high wind; high passions.
    “Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.” — Ps. lxxxix. 13.
    “Can heavenly minds such high resentment show?” — Dryden.
  7. 7.
    Very abstract; difficult to comprehend or surmount; grand; noble.
    “Both meet to hear and answer such high things.” — Shak.
    “Plain living and high thinking are no more.” — Wordsworth.
  8. 8.
    Costly; dear in price; extravagant; as, to hold goods at a high price.
    “If they must be good at so high a rate, they know they may be safe at a cheaper.” — South.
  9. 9.
    Arrogant; lofty; boastful; proud; ostentatious; -- used in a bad sense.
    “An high look and a proud heart . . . is sin.” — Prov. xxi. 4.
    “His forces, after all the high discourses, amounted really but to eighteen hundred foot.” — Clarendon.
  10. 10.
    Possessing a characteristic quality in a supreme or superior degree; as, high (i. e., intense) heat; high (i. e., full or quite) noon; high (i. e., rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i. e., complete) pleasure; high (i. e., deep or vivid) color; high (i. e., extensive, thorough) scholarship, etc.
    “High time it is this war now ended were.” — Spenser.
    “High sauces and spices are fetched from the Indies.” — Baker.
  11. 11.
    Strong-scented; slightly tainted; as, epicures do not cook game before it is high.(Cookery)
  12. 12.
    Acute or sharp; -- opposed to grave or low; as, a high note.(Mus.)
  13. 13.
    Made with a high position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate, as ē (ēve), o͞o (fo͞od). See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 10, 11.(Phon.)
Syn. Tall; lofty; elevated; noble; exalted; supercilious; proud; violent; full; dear. See Tall.
03 adv. In a high manner; in a high place; to a great altitude; to a great degree; largely; in a superior manner; eminently; powerfully.
  1. 1.
    In a high manner; in a high place; to a great altitude; to a great degree; largely; in a superior manner; eminently; powerfully.
Phrases & compounds
High and low — everywhere; in all supposable places; as, I hunted high and low.
04 n. An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.
  1. 1.
    An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.
  2. 2.
    People of rank or high station; as, high and low.
  3. 3.
    The highest card dealt or drawn.(Card Playing)
    “The dayspring from on high hath visited us.” — Luke i. 78.
05 v. i. To rise; as, the sun higheth.
  1. 1.
    To rise; as, the sun higheth.[Obs.]