Meaning & use
lanky
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Tall and thin, often with long limbs and a slightly awkward or loose way of moving.
Grammar: Can be comparative: lankier than his brother. It often implies ungainliness more than the neutral tall and slim.
Patterns
- a lanky teenager
- lanky build
- tall and lanky
A lanky teenager ducked under the doorway.
His lanky build helped him reach the top shelf.
The lanky goalkeeper waved his arms for the pass.
Word forms
| comparative | lankier |
|---|---|
| superlative | lankiest |
Common combinations
- lanky teenager
- The lanky teenager grew three inches in one year.
- lanky build
- His lanky build made hoodies look too short.
- tall and lanky
- The new center is tall and lanky but quick.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gangling
- Very close; also means tall, thin, and awkward, often with visible long limbs.
- gangly
- Informal variant of gangling; slightly less common in careful writing.
- gawky
- Stresses clumsy awkwardness more than height and thinness.
- lean
- Positive or neutral: thin and strong, without the awkward hint.
Opposites
Commonly confused: lanky or lank? lanky or lucky?
lanky vs lank
Lank describes straight, limp hair; lanky describes a tall thin awkward body.
lanky vs lucky
Lucky concerns chance; lanky describes build and movement.
Practice
Which word best describes someone who is very tall, thin, and moves a little awkwardly?
Choose one answer.
Lanky fits tall plus thin plus slight awkwardness. Compact and sturdy suggest shorter or solid builds, and rotund means round.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lanky”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.