height
hyt
Height (noun) means the measurement of how tall something or someone is, from base to top. Example: “What's your height?”
noun
1
The measurement of how tall something or someone is, from base to top.
"What's your height?"
"The fence is two meters in height."
"The doctor measured the child's height and weight at the check-up."
2
The highest or most intense point of something.
"The band was at the height of its fame in the late nineties."
"At the height of summer, the beach is packed with visitors."
"Her anger was at its height when the door slammed."
How to use height
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow tall something is, or the peak point of something (fame, fashion, a crisis).
Common mistake
Spelled height, not "heighth" — there's no "th" at the end despite how some people pronounce it.
Common pairings
at the height of
gain height
average height
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Word forms
- Plural
- heights
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Etymology
From Old English hīehþu, built from "high" plus an old noun-forming ending — literally "high-ness."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for height
See all rhymes for height →Frequently asked questions
What does “height” mean?
The word “height” means the measurement of how tall something or someone is, from base to top. In plain terms, how tall something is, or the peak point of something (fame, fashion, a crisis).
How do you pronounce “height”?
“Height” is pronounced hyt (/haɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “height” in a sentence?
Here is “height” used in a sentence: “The fence is two meters in height.”
What part of speech is “height”?
“Height” is a noun.
Where does the word “height” come from?
The word “height” comes from Old English. From Old English hīehþu, built from "high" plus an old noun-forming ending — literally "high-ness.".
Is “height” a common word?
“Height” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “height” have?
“Height” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the measurement of how tall something or someone is, from base to top.
What is the difference between height and length?
Both are measures of distance, but they describe different directions. Height measures how tall something is — the vertical distance from base to top. Length measures how long something is, usually its longest horizontal dimension. A door's height is floor to top, whereas its length would be that same edge measured lying flat.
What is the difference between height and altitude?
Height is usually measured from the base of an object to its top, such as a person's height or a building's height. Altitude measures vertical distance above a fixed reference, normally sea level, and is used for aircraft, mountains, and terrain. A plane's altitude can be thousands of metres while its own height is small.
How is a person's height measured?
Standing height is measured from the floor to the top of the head, with the person standing straight, barefoot, heels together, and looking forward. It is recorded in centimetres or in feet and inches. For accuracy a flat measuring board or a stadiometer is used, pressed lightly against the crown of the head.
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