or hight



the distance between the lowest and highest points of a person standing upright; stature: She is five feet in height.
Often heights.
  2. the highest part; top; apex; summit: In his dreams he reached the heights.
the highest point; utmost degree: the height of power; the height of pleasure.
Archaic. high rank in social status.

Origin of height

before 900; Middle English; Old English hīehtho. See high, -th1
Can be confusedaltitude elevation height (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonyms for height

3. tallness. Height, altitude, elevation refer to distance above a level. Height denotes extent upward (as from foot to head) as well as any measurable distance above a given level: The tree grew to a height of ten feet. They looked down from a great height. Altitude usually refers to the distance, determined by instruments, above a given level, commonly mean sea level: altitude of an airplane. Elevation implies a distance to which something has been raised or uplifted above a level: a hill's elevation above the surrounding country, above sea level. 5. prominence. 6. peak, pinnacle; acme, zenith; culmination.

Antonyms for height

1, 2. depth.

Usage note

Height, and not heighth, is considered the standard English form for this word.

Examples from the Web for hights

Historical Examples of hights

British Dictionary definitions for hights



the vertical distance from the bottom or lowest part of something to the top or apex
the vertical distance of an object or place above the ground or above sea level; altitude
relatively great altitude or distance from the bottom to the top
the topmost point; summit
astronomy the angular distance of a celestial body above the horizon
the period of greatest activity or intensitythe height of the battle
an extreme example of its kindthe height of rudeness
(often plural) an area of high ground
(often plural) the state of being far above the groundI don't like heights
(often plural) a position of influence, fame, or powerthe giddy heights they occupied in the 1980s

Word Origin for height

Old English hīehthu; related to Old Norse hǣthe, Gothic hauhitha, Old High German hōhida; see high



(tr; used only as a past tense in the passive or as a past participle) archaic, poetic to name; calla maid hight Mary

Word Origin for hight


Word Origin and History for hights







Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

hights in Medicine




The distance from the base of something to the top.
Stature, especially of the human body.