high elevation

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   a height above sea level that is considered great, especially in geography or travel

   Grammar: Often used after 'at': at high elevation. It can also come before a noun with a hyphen: high-elevation areas.

   Patterns

   • at high elevation
   • high-elevation areas
   • live at high elevation

   The village sits at high elevation, so the air is thin and the nights are cold.

   Plants that grow at high elevation often have small, tough leaves.

   Travelers to high elevation may need a day or two to adjust.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasefigurative

   a high position or level of something, used figuratively for status, rank, or amount

   Grammar: Usually used after 'at' or before a noun: at a high elevation in the company; high-elevation roles.

   Patterns

   • at a high elevation in something
   • reach a high elevation

   After years of hard work, she reached a high elevation in the organization.

   The report describes the high elevation of prices in the region.

Common combinations

at high elevation

Many birds nest at high elevation, where few predators can reach them.

high-elevation areas

High-elevation areas often get snow late into spring.

high elevation and low elevation

The map shows both high elevation and low elevation zones in different colors.

live at high elevation

People who live at high elevation may have more red blood cells.

adjust to high elevation

Give yourself time to adjust to high elevation before hiking.

Synonyms and how they differ

altitude

Altitude is the more common single word, especially in aviation and health; high elevation often describes a place or area.

height

Height is general and can mean any distance from bottom to top; high elevation is mainly about land above sea level.

altitude

In everyday speech, 'at altitude' is more idiomatic than 'at high elevation' when talking about mountain sickness.

Opposites

Word family

elevation noun

The height of something above a reference level, especially sea level.

elevate verb

To raise something to a higher position or level.

elevated adjective

Raised or higher than normal.

Commonly confused: high elevation or altitude?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “high elevation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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