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Meaning & use

height

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/haɪt/
US/haɪt/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The measurement of how far something reaches from its bottom to its top, or how tall a person is.

    Grammar: No plural for the general quality: 'of average height'; compare a counted plural in 'the heights of the two towers'.

    Patterns

    • of medium height
    • measure the height
    • in height

    The doorway was too low for a man of his height.

    We measured the height of the bookshelf before buying it.

  2. nouncountable

    A particular distance that something is above the ground, sea level, or another surface.

    Grammar: Countable and often used with a number: 'at a height of 3,000 metres'; compare the uncountable 'in height' for size.

    Patterns

    • at a height of
    • reach a height

    The drone flew at a height of about 120 metres.

    At that height, the air is thin and cold.

  3. nounusually singular

    The point when something is at its strongest, greatest, or most noticeable.

    Grammar: Nearly always singular with 'the height of'; the plural form 'heights' has a separate sense.

    Patterns

    • the height of summer
    • at its height
    • the height of fashion

    In the height of summer, the town fills with visitors.

    The strike was at its height when the talks began.

  4. nounusually plural

    A high place or position, or a very great level of success, excitement, or intensity.

    Grammar: Used as the plural 'heights'; contrast singular 'the height of' for a moment of peak intensity.

    Patterns

    • dizzy heights
    • scale the heights
    • fear of heights

    She has no head for heights and avoided the balcony.

    The book took him from obscurity to the heights of fame.

Word forms

pluralheights

Common combinations

average height
He is of average height for a thirteen-year-old.
gain height
The plane gained height quickly after takeoff.
the height of fashion
In the 1960s, miniskirts were the height of fashion.
a fear of heights
Her fear of heights kept her off the ladder.

Synonyms and how they differ

altitude
Used for distance above sea level or ground, especially of aircraft and mountains; never used for a person's tallness.
stature
A formal word for a person's height, or for reputation; use it when height sounds too plain or physical.
peak
For the 'most intense point' sense, peak fits any noun (the peak of his career), while 'height' is fixed in phrases like 'the height of summer'.

Opposites

depth

Word family

high adjective
The base adjective meaning 'tall' or 'far up', from which height is formed.
heighten verb
To make a feeling or effect stronger: the news heightened our anxiety.
highly adverb
Means 'very' or 'to a great degree', as in highly recommended.

Commonly confused: height or heighth?

height vs heighth

A common misspelling modeled on width and length; the only standard spelling is height.

Practice

At the ___ of the storm, the crew tied everything down on deck.

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