highball
Americannoun
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a drink of whiskey mixed with club soda or ginger ale and served with ice in a tall glass.
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Railroads.
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a signal to start a train, given with the hand or with a lamp.
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a signal for a train to move at full speed.
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Military Slang. a hand salute.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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a long iced drink consisting of a spirit base with water, soda water, etc
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(originally in railway use) a signal that the way ahead is clear and one may proceed
verb
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(intr) to move at great speed
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(tr) to drive (a vehicle) at great speed
Etymology
Origin of highball
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Declaration of Independence appeared on highball glasses, tea towels and collectible plates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
For contrast, a gulpable yuzu highball fizzes citrusy-sweet.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 8, 2023
Strain the mixture into two highball glasses filled with ice, top with seltzer, and garnish with lavender and lemon slices.
From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2022
Make the drink: Fill a highball glass with crushed ice.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 12, 2021
Sipping a highball after dinner, hearing the rushing of water in the electric dishwasher in the kitchen, I brought up a question that had puzzled me.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
