tall
tawl
Tall (adj) means having greater than average height. Example: “Their new coach is remarkably tall for a gymnast.”
adj
1
Having greater than average height.
"Their new coach is remarkably tall for a gymnast."
"The tall building cast a long shadow over the street."
"My brother is so tall that he has to duck through doorways."
2
Hard to believe; exaggerated, as in a "tall tale" or "tall story."
"He told a tall tale about catching a shark with his bare hands."
"That sounds like a tall story to me; nobody could run that fast."
"Grandad's tall tales about his fishing trips always made the children laugh."
How to use tall
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAbove average in height, or (informally) an exaggerated or unbelievable story.
Common mistake
"A tall order" means a difficult demand, not anything related to height.
Common pairings
tall order
tall tale
stand tall
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Word forms
- Plural
- talls
- Comparative
- taller
- Superlative
- tallest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Their new coach is remarkably _____ for a gymnast.
Etymology
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.
Synonyms
View more →
towering
big
statuesque
magniloquent
grandiloquent
marvellous
improbable
elevated
eminent
exalted
high
lofty
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tall
See all rhymes for tall →Frequently asked questions
What does “tall” mean?
The word “tall” means having greater than average height. In plain terms, above average in height, or (informally) an exaggerated or unbelievable story.
How do you pronounce “tall”?
“Tall” is pronounced tawl (/tɔl/ in IPA).
How do you use “tall” in a sentence?
Here is “tall” used in a sentence: “Their new coach is remarkably tall for a gymnast.”
What is another word for “tall”?
Words with a similar meaning to “tall” include elevated, eminent, exalted, high and lofty.
What is the opposite of “tall”?
The opposite of “tall” — its antonyms — are short, deep and shallow.
What part of speech is “tall”?
“Tall” is an adjective.
Where does the word “tall” come from?
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.
Is “tall” a common word?
“Tall” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between tall and high?
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.
What is the opposite of tall?
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.
What is an example of tall in a sentence?
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.
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