high relief

American  

noun

Sculpture.

1. sculptured relief in which volumes are strongly projected from the background.

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high relief British  

noun

1. Also called: alto-relievo.  relief in which forms and figures stand out from the background to half or more than half of their natural depth

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Etymology

Origin of high relief

First recorded in 1875–80

Compare meaning

How does high-relief compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• high relief vs. low relief

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

high relief

This stark dichotomy puts Amina, stunningly sung and acted by Nadine Sierra, into high relief on stage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025

“But it was the sadness of an artist, a sadness tinged with languor and a sadness against which his artistry stood out in high relief in a manner that was quite extraordinary.”

From New York Times ● May 3, 2022

Staying home all the time has really thrown into high relief how much *work* it is to go out into the world and perform appropriate femininity.

From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2021

The most imposing sculpture is a 17th-century metal plaque showing the figure of a royal courtier in high relief.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2021

Particularly were we impressed with the curious Caverns on the Island of Elephanta, with the gigantic figures carved in high relief.

From Fifty-One Years of Victorian Life by Margaret Elizabeth Leigh Child-Villiers