height

UK: /ˈhaɪt/ US: /haɪt/ ,(hīt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

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 © 2025

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.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

height / haɪt/ noun

1. the vertical distance from the bottom or lowest part of something to the top or apex
2. the vertical distance of an object or place above the ground or above sea level; altitude
3. relatively great altitude or distance from the bottom to the top
4. the topmost point; summit
5. the angular distance of a celestial body above the horizon
6. the period of greatest activity or intensity: the height of the battle
7. an extreme example of its kind: the height of rudeness
8. (often plural) an area of high ground

Etymology: Old English hīehthu; related to Old Norse hǣthe, Gothic hauhitha, Old High German hōhida; see high

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

heighth  (hītth), n. 

1. Slang Terms a nonstandard spelling of height.