adjective
HD
aych-DEE
HD (adjective) means describing video, screens or images with a much higher pixel resolution than the older standard, giving a sharper and more detailed picture. Example: “The match is only being shown in HD on the paid channel.”
adjective
1
Describing video, screens or images with a much higher pixel resolution than the older standard, giving a sharper and more detailed picture.
"The match is only being shown in HD on the paid channel."
"I finally replaced the old set with a proper HD TV."
2
informal Used loosely of anything that is unusually clear, crisp or vivid.
"The dream was in HD, right down to the stitching on his coat."
noun
1
High definition itself, as a picture standard or broadcast format.
"Everything looks washed out until you switch it to HD."
How to use HD
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sharp, detailed picture quality on a screen.
When to use it
Neutral in everyday and commercial use; now slightly dated as a selling point, since 4K has become the premium label.
Memory tip
Used before a noun HD needs no hyphen (HD video), but the spelled-out form does: high-definition video.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
SD
4K
UHD
Common pairings
in HD
HD video
HD stream
HD quality
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The match is only being shown in _____ on the paid channel.
Etymology
An abbreviation of high definition.
Synonyms
View more →
high-definition
high-res
Antonyms
SD
standard-definition
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HD and Full HD?
HD normally means 1280x720 pixels, often labelled 720p. Full HD means 1920x1080, or 1080p, which has roughly twice as many pixels and a noticeably sharper image. Both are lower resolution than 4K, which is about four times Full HD.
Does HD ever mean something else?
Yes, in narrower contexts. In medicine HD can stand for Huntington's disease or haemodialysis, and in computing it sometimes means hard disk. But in everyday use it almost always means high definition.
What is the meaning of HD?
"HD" (adjective) means describing video, screens or images with a much higher pixel resolution than the older standard, giving a sharper and more detailed picture.
What is another word for HD?
Other words for "HD" include high-definition, high-res.
