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adj Uncommon

lofty

LOF-tee

Lofty (adj) means Very tall or high. Example: “The cathedral has a lofty vaulted ceiling.”

adj
1
Very tall or high.
"The cathedral has a lofty vaulted ceiling."
"They stood beneath the lofty peaks of the Alps."
2
Noble or idealistic, sometimes to the point of being unrealistic.
"She had lofty ambitions of ending world hunger."
3
Haughty or arrogant.
"His lofty manner put people off straight away."

How to use lofty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPhysically very high, or (about ideas or people) grandly ambitious or proud.

Common pairings
lofty ideals lofty ambitions lofty heights lofty ceiling

Word forms

loftier comparative, loftiest superlative

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The cathedral has a _____ vaulted ceiling.

Etymology

From Middle English lofty, built from "loft" (originally "sky" or "upper room") plus the adjective suffix "-y."

Origin: Middle English

Antonyms

mean ignoble antonym(s) of

Related words

Rhymes for lofty

See all rhymes for lofty →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lofty” mean?

The word “lofty” means very tall or high. In plain terms, physically very high, or (about ideas or people) grandly ambitious or proud.

How do you pronounce “lofty”?

“Lofty” is pronounced LOF-tee (/ˈlɔːfti/ in IPA).

How do you use “lofty” in a sentence?

Here is “lofty” used in a sentence: “The cathedral has a lofty vaulted ceiling.”

What is the opposite of “lofty”?

The opposite of “lofty” — its antonyms — are mean, ignoble and antonym(s) of.

What part of speech is “lofty”?

“Lofty” is an adjective.

Where does the word “lofty” come from?

The word “lofty” comes from Middle English. From Middle English lofty, built from "loft" (originally "sky" or "upper room") plus the adjective suffix "-y.".

Is “lofty” a common word?

“Lofty” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “lofty” have?

“Lofty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very tall or high.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial