adjective
high level
HY LEV-uhl
High level (adjective) means dealing with the broad picture rather than the details; general and summarised. Example: “Give me the high-level version first and we can dig into the numbers later.”
adjective
1
Dealing with the broad picture rather than the details; general and summarised.
"Give me the high-level version first and we can dig into the numbers later."
"It's only a high-level estimate at this stage."
2
Involving people of senior rank or great importance.
"High-level talks resumed in Vienna on Monday."
"The leak came from a high-level source inside the ministry."
3
Of a high standard, quantity or intensity.
"He is still playing high-level rugby at thirty-eight."
"Tests showed high levels of lead in the soil."
How to use high level
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAbout the big picture, or involving important people.
When to use it
The overview sense is business jargon but has spread into general speech. The senior-rank sense is standard in news and diplomacy.
Memory tip
High-level and high-end are not the same: high-end means expensive or luxurious, never general or summarised.
Easily confused with
top-level
low-level
high-end
Common pairings
high-level overview
high-level summary
high-level talks
high-level meeting
high-level officials
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Tests showed _____ of lead in the soil.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for high level
See all rhymes for high level →Frequently asked questions
What does high-level mean in business?
It means a summary that stays above the detail — the main aims, shape and outcomes of something, with the specifics left out. A high-level overview is what you give a board or a new stakeholder before anyone opens the spreadsheet.
What is the difference between high-level and low-level in programming?
A high-level language, such as Python, hides the machine's inner workings behind readable instructions. A low-level language, such as assembly, works close to the hardware, giving finer control at the cost of far more effort. Neither is better; they solve different problems.
Is it high level or high-level?
Hyphenate it when it comes before the noun it modifies: a high-level summary. Leave it open after the verb or when level is an ordinary noun: the discussion was high level, the levels were high.
What is the meaning of high level?
"high level" (adjective) means dealing with the broad picture rather than the details; general and summarised.
