Synonyms

higher-up

American

[hahy-er-uhp] / ˈhaɪ ərˈʌp /

noun

Informal.

a person in a position of higher authority in an organization; superior.

higher-up British

noun

informal a person of higher rank or in a superior position

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of higher-up

1910–15, noun use of adj. phrase higher up

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 tech-heavy index closed 0.9% higher, up 15.3% this month.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

"It was something they were all extremely excited about, from the shop manager who first found it, to higher up in head office, they've all followed this journey with great excitement," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Russia has instead used its Yamal and Express geo-stationary satellites that are higher up and there are fewer of them.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Wind speeds are higher up in the sky, and investment bankers are often distracted by whistling gales that blow against the tower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

She built small platforms higher up in the trees.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023