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

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 confronting what you specifically don’t like about working with this anti-mentor can cast what you prioritize most into high relief.

From Slate • Sep. 4, 2024

Winkler’s affective shortcomings throw his social anxiety and bouts of verbal diarrhea into high relief.

From New York Times • Oct. 24, 2023

Interracial relationships throw this into high relief, pushing cultural and racial differences to the fore⁠—the key edges of those puzzle pieces.

From Salon • Aug. 21, 2022

Old, too, seemed the great stone house opposite, known as the Maison du Loup, and bearing uncouth masks and figures of wolves in high relief on its front.

From When Love Calls by Weyman, Stanley John