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 notesIn plain EnglishPhysically very high, or (about ideas or people) grandly ambitious or proud.
Common pairings
lofty ideals
lofty ambitions
lofty heights
lofty ceiling
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Word forms
- Comparative
- loftier
- Superlative
- loftiest
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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."
Synonyms
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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.
