tall

The word “tall” means having greater than average height. In plain terms, above average in height, or (informally) an exaggerated or unbelievable story.

“Tall” is pronounced tawl (/tɔl/ in IPA).

Here is “tall” used in a sentence: “Their new coach is remarkably tall for a gymnast.”

Words with a similar meaning to “tall” include elevated, eminent, exalted, high and lofty.

The opposite of “tall” — its antonyms — are short, deep and shallow.

“Tall” is an adjective.

The word “tall” comes from Middle English. From Middle English tall, originally meaning "seemly, handsome, or bold" rather than referring to height; the height-related meaning developed later, in an unusual shift for an adjective.

“Tall” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

Both describe great vertical extent, but they are used differently. Tall usually describes people, animals, or narrow things that rise well above their width, like a tall tree or a tall man. High refers to distance above the ground or a general level, like a high shelf or a high mountain peak.

The most common opposite is short, used for people and objects alike, as in a short person or a short building. Depending on context you might also say low, especially for structures measured from the ground. For people, though, short is the natural and everyday antonym of tall.

You might say, "She is the tallest player on the team," or "They live in a tall glass tower downtown." The word stretches to figurative phrases too, such as a "tall order," meaning a demanding request, and a "tall tale," meaning an exaggerated or unlikely story.