Heights

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

height /haɪt/   n. 

1. extent or distance upward:
   [uncountable] The plane gained height rapidly.
2. distance upward between the lowest and highest points:
   [countable] His height was about five feet, ten inches tall.
3. the quality or degree of being high, tall, elevated, or at a high altitude:
   [countable* usually singular] felt proud of her height.
4. Often, heights. [plural]
   • a high place above a level;
     hill or mountain:
     the heights overlooking the old city.
   • the highest part;
     apex;
     summit:
     to reach the heights in one's profession.
5. the highest or most intense point, amount, or degree;
   peak:
   [countable* usually singular;

   often: the + ~]

   the height of pleasure; the height of rush hour.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

height  (hīt), n. 

1. Weights and Measures extent or distance upward:
   The balloon stopped rising at a height of 500 feet.
2. Weights and Measures distance upward from a given level to a fixed point:
   the height from the ground to the first floor; the height of an animal at the shoulder.
3. the distance between the lowest and highest points of a person standing upright;
   stature:
   She is five feet in height.
4. considerable or great altitude or elevation:
   the height of the mountains.
5. Often, heights. 
   • a high place above a level;
     a hill or mountain:
     They stood on the heights overlooking the valley.
   • the highest part;
     top;
     apex;
     summit:
     In his dreams he reached the heights.
6. the highest point;
   utmost degree:
   the height of power; the height of pleasure.
7. [Archaic.] high rank in social status.

Also, hight. 

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English hīehtho. See high, -th¹

Synonyms

• 3. tallness.
  Height, altitude, elevation refer to distance above a level.
  Height denotes extent upward (as from foot to head) as well as any measurable distance above a given level:
  The tree grew to a height of ten feet. They looked down from a great height.
  Altitude usually refers to the distance, determined by instruments, above a given level, commonly mean sea level:
  altitude of an airplane.
  Elevation implies a distance to which something has been raised or uplifted above a level:
  a hill's elevation above the surrounding country, above sea level.
• 5. prominence.
• 6. peak, pinnacle; acme, zenith; culmination.

Antonyms

• 1, 2. depth.

Usage

Height, and not heighth, is considered the standard English form for this word.