height
Americannoun
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extent or distance upward.
The balloon stopped rising at a height of 500 feet.
- Antonyms:
- depth
-
distance upward from a given level to a fixed point.
the height from the ground to the first floor; the height of an animal at the shoulder.
- Antonyms:
- depth
-
the distance between the lowest and highest points of a person standing upright; stature.
She is five feet in height.
- Synonyms:
- tallness
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considerable or great altitude or elevation.
the height of the mountains.
-
Often heights
-
a high place above a level; a hill or mountain.
They stood on the heights overlooking the valley.
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the highest part; top; apex; summit.
In his dreams he reached the heights.
- Synonyms:
- prominence
-
-
the highest point; utmost degree.
the height of power; the height of pleasure.
- Synonyms:
- culmination, zenith, acme, pinnacle, peak
-
Archaic. high rank in social status.
noun
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the vertical distance from the bottom or lowest part of something to the top or apex
-
the vertical distance of an object or place above the ground or above sea level; altitude
-
relatively great altitude or distance from the bottom to the top
-
the topmost point; summit
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astronomy the angular distance of a celestial body above the horizon
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the period of greatest activity or intensity
the height of the battle
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an extreme example of its kind
the height of rudeness
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(often plural) an area of high ground
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(often plural) the state of being far above the ground
I don't like heights
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(often plural) a position of influence, fame, or power
the giddy heights they occupied in the 1980s
Spelling
Height, and not heighth, is considered the standard English form for this word.
Related Words
Height, altitude, elevation refer to distance above a level. Height denotes extent upward (as from foot to head) as well as any measurable distance above a given level: The tree grew to a height of ten feet. They looked down from a great height. Altitude usually refers to the distance, determined by instruments, above a given level, commonly mean sea level: altitude of an airplane. Elevation implies a distance to which something has been raised or uplifted above a level: a hill's elevation above the surrounding country, above sea level.
Etymology
Origin of height
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hīehtho. See high, -th 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the height of Iran’s expansion, it controlled a land corridor running from Tehran through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon, through which it could transport arms and personnel.
Then at the height of his phenomenal 1970s popularity, John signed Sedaka to his recently launched American imprint Rocket Records.
From Los Angeles Times
Readers of “The Marble Faun” will find Hawthorne at the height of his descriptive abilities, particularly in his accounts of Roman masterworks, which qualify as artworks themselves.
He said it should examine their design, height and placement on level five of the stadium, where Claydon fell, and assess whether the area provides "a safe environment" for people attending events.
From BBC
Before any dietary changes, researchers collected blood and stool samples and measured blood pressure, weight, height, waist circumference, and body fat.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
