High vs. Higher: What's the Difference?
By Janet White || Updated on May 20, 2024
High describes something elevated in position, rank, or level, whereas higher is the comparative form, indicating something is more elevated than another.
Key Differences
High is an adjective that describes something that is elevated or at a considerable distance above the ground or a baseline. It can refer to physical height, levels of achievement, or intensity. Higher is the comparative form of high, used to compare the elevation or level of two or more objects or concepts. It indicates that one is more elevated or exceeds another in some aspect.
High is often used in absolute terms to describe something that is elevated without comparison. For instance, "The building is high" or "He has high standards." It is a descriptive term that sets a baseline for elevation or quality. Higher, on the other hand, always implies a comparison. It is used to show that something surpasses another in terms of height, quality, rank, or degree. For example, "This mountain is higher than the other" or "She scored higher on the test."
When using high, the context is typically straightforward, indicating a significant level or degree. Higher adds a relational context, comparing one item to another to show superiority in height or degree.
High can be used in various contexts such as high altitude, high temperature, or high rank. It provides a clear indication of elevation or intensity without needing a point of comparison. Higher specifically indicates a comparative aspect. It is used when two entities are being evaluated against each other to determine which one is more elevated or greater in some capacity.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Elevated in position or level
More elevated than another
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Form
Adjective
Comparative adjective
Usage
Describes significant elevation
Indicates comparison between two or more
Context
Absolute description
Relational comparison
Examples
High mountain, high standards
Higher building, higher score
High and Higher Definitions
High
Of great vertical extent.
The wall is high, providing ample security.
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Higher
Comparative of high, more elevated.
The north tower is higher than the south tower.
High
Intense or extreme.
The high winds caused significant damage.
Higher
Exceeding a previously established level.
The temperature today is higher than it was yesterday.
High
Having a relatively great elevation; extending far upward
A high mountain.
A high tower.
Higher
Having a relatively great elevation; extending far upward
A high mountain.
A high tower.
High
Extending a specified distance upward
A cabinet ten feet high.
Higher
Extending a specified distance upward
A cabinet ten feet high.
High
Far or farther from a reference point
Was too high in the offensive zone to take a shot.
Higher
Far or farther from a reference point
Was too high in the offensive zone to take a shot.
High
Being at or near the peak or culminating stage
The high tourist season.
High summer.
Higher
Being at or near the peak or culminating stage
The high tourist season.
High summer.
High
Advanced in development or complexity
High forms of animal life.
Higher mathematics.
Higher
Advanced in development or complexity
High forms of animal life.
Higher mathematics.
High
Far removed in time; remote
High antiquity.
Higher
Far removed in time; remote
High antiquity.
High
Slightly spoiled or tainted; gamy. Used of meat.
Higher
Slightly spoiled or tainted; gamy. Used of meat.
High
Having a bad smell; malodorous.
Higher
Having a bad smell; malodorous.
High
Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively large number of sound-wave cycles per second
The high tones of a flute.
Higher
Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively large number of sound-wave cycles per second
The high tones of a flute.
High
Raised in pitch; not soft or hushed
A high voice.
Higher
Raised in pitch; not soft or hushed
A high voice.
High
Situated relatively far from the equator
A high latitude.
Higher
Situated relatively far from the equator
A high latitude.
High
Of great importance
Set a high priority on funding the housing program.
Higher
Of great importance
Set a high priority on funding the housing program.
High
Eminent in rank or status
A high official.
Higher
Eminent in rank or status
A high official.
High
Serious; grave
High crimes and misdemeanors.
Higher
Serious; grave
High crimes and misdemeanors.
High
Constituting a climax; crucial
The chase scene is the high point of the film.
Higher
Constituting a climax; crucial
The chase scene is the high point of the film.
High
Characterized by lofty or stirring events or themes
High adventure.
High drama.
Higher
Characterized by lofty or stirring events or themes
High adventure.
High drama.
High
Lofty or exalted in quality or character
A person of high morals.
Higher
Lofty or exalted in quality or character
A person of high morals.
High
Greater than usual or expected, as in quantity, magnitude, cost, or degree
“A high price has to be paid for the happy marriage with the four healthy children” (Doris Lessing).
Higher
Greater than usual or expected, as in quantity, magnitude, cost, or degree
“A high price has to be paid for the happy marriage with the four healthy children” (Doris Lessing).
High
Favorable
He has a high opinion of himself.
Higher
Favorable
He has a high opinion of himself.
High
Of great force or violence
High winds.
Higher
Of great force or violence
High winds.
High
(Informal) Excited or euphoric
High spirits.
Higher
(Informal) Excited or euphoric
High spirits.
High
(Slang) Intoxicated by alcohol or a drug, such as cocaine or marijuana.
Higher
(Slang) Intoxicated by alcohol or a drug, such as cocaine or marijuana.
High
Luxurious; extravagant
High living.
Higher
Luxurious; extravagant
High living.
High
(Linguistics) Of or relating to vowels produced with part of the tongue close to the palate, as in the vowel of tree.
Higher
(Linguistics) Of or relating to vowels produced with part of the tongue close to the palate, as in the vowel of tree.
High
Of, relating to, or being the gear configuration or setting, as in an automotive transmission, that produces the greatest vehicular speed with respect to engine speed.
Higher
Of, relating to, or being the gear configuration or setting, as in an automotive transmission, that produces the greatest vehicular speed with respect to engine speed.
High
At, in, or to a lofty position, level, or degree
Saw a plane flying high in the sky.
Prices that had gone too high.
Higher
At, in, or to a lofty position, level, or degree
Saw a plane flying high in the sky.
Prices that had gone too high.
High
In an extravagant or luxurious way
Made a fortune and lived high.
Higher
In an extravagant or luxurious way
Made a fortune and lived high.
High
A lofty place or region.
Higher
A lofty place or region.
High
A high level or degree
Summer temperatures reached an all-time high.
Higher
A high level or degree
Summer temperatures reached an all-time high.
High
The high gear configuration of a transmission.
Higher
The high gear configuration of a transmission.
High
A center of high atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone.
Higher
A center of high atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone.
High
(Informal) An excited or euphoric condition
The team was on a high after winning in overtime.
Higher
(Informal) An excited or euphoric condition
The team was on a high after winning in overtime.
High
(Slang) An intoxicated or euphoric condition induced by alcohol or a drug.
Higher
(Slang) An intoxicated or euphoric condition induced by alcohol or a drug.
High
Physically elevated, extending above a base or average level:
Higher
A national school-leaving examination and university entrance qualification.
High
Very elevated; extending or being far above a base; tall; lofty.
The balloon rose high in the sky.
The wall was high.
A high mountain
Higher
(transitive) To make higher; to raise or increase in amount or quantity.
High
Relatively elevated; rising or raised above the average or normal level from which elevation is measured.
Higher
(intransitive) To ascend.
High
Above the batter's shoulders.
The pitch (or: the ball) was high
Higher
Advanced in complexity or elaboration; as, higher mathematics.
High
Pertaining to (or, especially of a language: spoken in) in an area which is at a greater elevation, for example more mountainous, than other regions.
Higher
Of or pertaining to education beyond the secondary level; as, higher education; higher learning.
High
Having a specified elevation or height; tall.
Three feet high
Three Mount Everests high
Higher
Advanced in complexity or elaboration;
High finance
Higher mathematics
High
Elevated in status, esteem, or prestige, or in importance or development; exalted in rank, station, or character.
The oldest of the elves' royal family still conversed in High Elvish.
Higher
Of education beyond the secondary level;
Higher education
Higher learning
High
Most exalted; foremost.
The high priest, the high officials of the court, the high altar
Higher
Surpassing another in degree or level.
She achieved a higher score than her classmates.
High
Of great importance and consequence: grave (if negative) or solemn (if positive).
High crimes, the high festival of the sun
Higher
Greater in amount, value, or rank.
His salary is higher than most of his colleagues.
High
Consummate; advanced (e.g. in development) to the utmost extent or culmination, or possessing a quality in its supreme degree, at its zenith.
High (i.e. intense) heat; high (i.e. full or quite) noon; high (i.e. rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i.e. complete) pleasure; high (i.e. deep or vivid) colour; high (i.e. extensive, thorough) scholarship; high tide; high [tourism] season; the High Middle Ages
Higher
Positioned at a more elevated level.
The plane flew at a higher altitude.
High
Advanced in complexity (and hence potentially abstract and/or difficult to comprehend).
High
(in several set phrases) Very traditionalist and conservative, especially in favoring older ways of doing things; see e.g. high church, High Tory.
High
Elevated in mood; marked by great merriment, excitement, etc.
In high spirits
High
(of a lifestyle) Luxurious; rich.
High living, the high life
High
Lofty, often to the point of arrogant, haughty, boastful, proud.
A high tone
High
(with "on" or "about") Keen, enthused.
High
With tall waves.
High
Remote (to the north or south) from the equator; situated at (or constituting) a latitude which is expressed by a large number.
High latitude, fish species in high arctic and antarctic areas
High
Large, great (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc).
My bank charges me a high interest rate.
I was running a high temperature and had high cholesterol.
High voltage
High prices
High winds
A high number
High
Having a large or comparatively larger concentration of (a substance, which is often but not always linked by "in" when predicative).
Carrots are high in vitamin A.
Made from a high-copper alloy
High
(acoustics) Acute or shrill in pitch, due to being of greater frequency, i.e. produced by more rapid vibrations (wave oscillations).
The note was too high for her to sing.
High
(phonetics) Made with some part of the tongue positioned high in the mouth, relatively close to the palate.
High
(card games) Greater in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc.
High
(poker) Having the highest rank in a straight, flush or straight flush.
I have KT742 of the same suit. In other words, a K-high flush.
9-high straight = 98765 unsuited
Royal Flush = AKQJT suited = A-high straight flush
High
(of a card or hand) Winning; able to take a trick, win a round, etc.
North's hand was high. East was in trouble.
High
Strong-scented; slightly tainted/spoiled; beginning to decompose.
Epicures do not cook game before it is high.
The tailor liked his meat high.
High
(informal) intoxicated; under the influence of a mood-altering drug, formerly usually alcohol, but now (from the mid-20th century) usually not alcohol but rather marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.
High
Near, in its direction of travel, to the (direction of the) wind.
High
Positioned up the field, towards the opposing team's goal.
Our defensive line is too high.
High
In or to an elevated position.
How high above land did you fly?
The desks were piled high with magazines.
High
In or at a great value.
Costs have grown higher this year again.
High
At a pitch of great frequency.
I certainly can't sing that high.
High
A high point or position, literally (as, an elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven).or figuratively (as, a point of success or achievement; a time when things are at their best, greatest, most numerous, maximum, etc).
It was one of the highs of his career.
Inflation reached a ten-year high.
High
The maximum atmospheric temperature recorded at a particular location, especially during one 24-hour period.
Today's high was 32 °C.
High
A period of euphoria, from excitement or from an intake of drugs.
That pill gave me a high for a few hours, before I had a comedown.
High
A drug that gives such a high.
High
A large area of elevated atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone.
A large high is centred on the Azores.
High
(card games) The highest card dealt or drawn.
High
(obsolete) Thought; intention; determination; purpose.
High
(obsolete) To rise.
The sun higheth.
High
To hie; to hasten.
High
To hie.
Men must high them apace, and make haste.
High
To rise; as, the sun higheth.
High
Elevated above any starting point of measurement, as a line, or surface; having altitude; lifted up; raised or extended in the direction of the zenith; lofty; tall; as, a high mountain, tower, tree; the sun is high.
High
Regarded as raised up or elevated; distinguished; remarkable; conspicuous; superior; - used indefinitely or relatively, and often in figurative senses, which are understood from the connection
High
Elevated in character or quality, whether moral or intellectual; preëminent; honorable; as, high aims, or motives.
High
Possessing a characteristic quality in a supreme or superior degree; as, high (i. e., intense) heat; high (i. e., full or quite) noon; high (i. e., rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i. e., complete) pleasure; high (i. e., deep or vivid) color; high (i. e., extensive, thorough) scholarship, etc.
High time it is this war now ended were.
High sauces and spices are fetched from the Indies.
High
Exalted in social standing or general estimation, or in rank, reputation, office, and the like; dignified; as, she was welcomed in the highest circles.
He was a wight of high renown.
High
Strong-scented; slightly tainted; as, epicures do not cook game before it is high.
High
Of noble birth; illustrious; as, of high family.
High
Acute or sharp; - opposed to grave or low; as, a high note.
High
Of great strength, force, importance, and the like; strong; mighty; powerful; violent; sometimes, triumphant; victorious; majestic, etc.; as, a high wind; high passions.
Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
Can heavenly minds such high resentment show?
High
Made with a high position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate, as ē (ēve), Ō (fŌd). See Guide to Pronunciation, 10, 11.
High
Very abstract; difficult to comprehend or surmount; grand; noble.
Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
Plain living and high thinking are no more.
High
Costly; dear in price; extravagant; as, to hold goods at a high price.
If they must be good at so high a rate, they know they may be safe at a cheaper.
High
Arrogant; lofty; boastful; proud; ostentatious; - used in a bad sense.
An high look and a proud heart . . . is sin.
His forces, after all the high discourses, amounted really but to eighteen hundred foot.
High
In a high manner; in a high place; to a great altitude; to a great degree; largely; in a superior manner; eminently; powerfully.
High
An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.
High
People of rank or high station; as, high and low.
High
The highest card dealt or drawn.
The dayspring from on high hath visited us.
High
A lofty level or position or degree;
Summer temperatures reached an all-time high
High
An air mass of higher than normal pressure;
The east coast benefits from a Bermuda high
High
A state of sustained elation;
I'm on a permanent high these days
High
A state of altered consciousness induced by alcohol or narcotics;
They took drugs to get a high on
High
A high place;
They stood on high and observed the coutryside
He doesn't like heights
High
A public secondary school usually including grades 9 through 12;
He goes to the neighborhood highschool
High
A forward gear with a gear ratio giving high vehicle velocity for a given engine speed
High
Greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount;
A high temperature
A high price
The high point of his career
High risks
Has high hopes
The river is high
He has a high opinion of himself
High
(literal meanings) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like `knee-high');
A high mountain
High ceilings
High buildings
A high forehead
A high incline
A foot high
High
Standing above others in quality or position;
People in high places
The high priest
Eminent members of the community
High
Used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency
High
Happy and excited and energetic
High
Used of the smell of game beginning to taint
High
Slightly and pleasantly intoxicated from alcohol or a drug (especially marijuana)
High
At a great altitude;
He climbed high on the ladder
High
In or to a high position, amount, or degree;
Prices have gone up far too high
High
In a rich manner;
He lives high
High
Far up toward the source;
He lives high up the river
High
Elevated in position or stature.
The mountain is high and difficult to climb.
High
Greater than usual or expected in amount or degree.
She has high expectations for her students.
High
Superior in rank or quality.
He holds a high position in the company.
FAQs
How is higher used in a sentence?
Higher is used to compare two things, indicating that one is more elevated than the other.
What does high mean?
High describes something elevated in position, rank, or level.
Can higher be used without a comparison?
No, higher inherently implies a comparison between two or more entities.
What is an example of high in context?
"The building is high" means the building has significant height.
Does high refer only to physical height?
No, high can refer to levels of achievement, intensity, or rank as well.
Is high a positive or negative term?
High is neutral; it can describe something positive like standards or negative like costs.
Is high always absolute?
Yes, high describes an elevated level without comparing to another entity.
What is an example of higher in context?
"This building is higher than the one next to it" shows a comparison in height.
Can higher be used for non-physical comparisons?
Yes, higher can compare scores, ranks, temperatures, etc.
Is high used in idioms?
Yes, "high and dry" means left without help or resources.
What is a synonym for high?
Elevated is a synonym for high.
What is a synonym for higher?
Superior in the context of rank or level can be a synonym for higher.
Is higher always better?
Not necessarily; higher indicates a relative increase, which can be positive or negative depending on context.
Can higher be used for achievements?
Yes, e.g., "Her achievements are higher than those of her peers."
Does higher imply superiority?
Higher implies greater elevation or level, which can suggest superiority in some contexts.
Is high used in musical contexts?
Yes, high can describe notes or pitches, e.g., "She hit a high note."
What is a high position?
A high position refers to a superior rank or status within an organization.
What is a higher education level?
Higher education level means a more advanced stage of education, such as university compared to high school.
Can high be used for temperature?
Yes, high can describe elevated temperatures, e.g., "The high temperature today is 90°F."
What is a higher altitude?
A higher altitude means a greater elevation above sea level compared to another point.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
