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Meaning & use

high-pitched

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌhaɪ ˈpɪtʃt/
US/ˌhaɪ ˈpɪtʃt/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Having a high note or tone, so that the sound seems thin or sharp rather than deep.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a high-pitched voice, the sound was high-pitched.

    Patterns

    • a high-pitched voice
    • a high-pitched sound

    The kettle gave a high-pitched whistle that made the dog bark.

    Children's voices are often higher and more high-pitched than adults' voices.

    I heard a high-pitched squeak coming from the wall.

  2. adjectivebefore a nountechnical

    Describing a roof with a steep slope.

    Grammar: Used before roof: a high-pitched roof sheds snow well.

    Patterns

    • a high-pitched roof

    The old chapel has a high-pitched roof covered with slate.

    A high-pitched roof drains rain quickly.

    They chose a high-pitched roof to make room for an attic.

Word forms

comparativemore high-pitched
superlativemost high-pitched

Common combinations

high-pitched voice
The cartoon mouse has a high-pitched voice.
high-pitched squeal
A high-pitched squeal came from the brakes.
high-pitched whine
The engine made a high-pitched whine.
high-pitched noise
There is a high-pitched noise in my headphones.
high-pitched laugh
She has a high-pitched laugh that is easy to spot in a crowd.

Synonyms and how they differ

shrill
Shrill is stronger and suggests a piercing sound that is unpleasant to hear, while high-pitched can be neutral.
piercing
Piercing stresses that the sound cuts through other noise, which is not always true of a high-pitched one.
squeaky
Squeaky suggests a small, thin sound like a mouse and is often used lightly or humorously.
treble
Treble is a music term for the upper range and is not used for everyday voices.

Opposites

low-pitcheddeep

Word family

pitch noun
how high or low a sound is
pitch verb
to set a sound at a particular level
low-pitched adjective
deep in tone
pitched adjective
set at a particular level or slope

Commonly confused: high-pitched or high-priced?

high-pitched vs high-priced

High-priced means expensive, and it is not about sound.

Practice

The tiny puppy let out a ____ yelp when I stepped on its toy.

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