high tea

American  

noun

British.

1. a late afternoon or early evening meal similar to a light supper.

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high tea British  

noun

1. See tea

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Etymology

Origin of high tea

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

"I've taken Bear for a fancy high tea - he had his own one," she laughed.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

For my birthday, I just did an afternoon high tea at the Peninsula.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2025

And second, whatever you do, please don’t mistake your tea for high tea!

From Salon • Jan. 6, 2024

My husband proposed to me in the rose garden, and it is where my friends and I have gathered for years for high tea on special and just “missed you” occasions.

From New York Times • Jun. 10, 2022

“It’s only three days,” she told Bridge, “but you wouldn’t believe the number of events—we’re playing at the rehearsal dinner, the prewedding cocktail hour, the ceremony, and then—get this—there’s a high tea the day after.”

From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead