lofty
Americanadjective
-
extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering.
lofty mountains.
- Synonyms:
- elevated
-
exalted in rank, dignity, or character; eminent.
- Antonyms:
- lowly
-
elevated in style, tone, or sentiment, as writings or speech.
- Synonyms:
- sublime
-
arrogantly or condescendingly superior in manner; haughty.
to treat someone in a lofty manner.
- Synonyms:
- supercilious
- Antonyms:
- humble
-
Nautical. noting a rig of a sailing ship having extraordinarily high masts.
-
(of fabric or yarn) thick and resilient.
adjective
-
of majestic or imposing height
-
exalted or noble in character or nature
-
haughty or supercilious
-
elevated, eminent, or superior
Synonym Usage
See high.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of lofty
Explanation
Lofty is a good word for describing something that's high above the ground, or someone who acts like she's high above everyone else. Dating from the 15th century, lofty originally meant "exalted," or spiritually high, but soon came to mean physically high as well. A towering mountain can be called "lofty." So can someone who walks around with her nose in the air and speaks in a fake English accent. Even if she's only five-foot-two.
Vocabulary lists containing lofty
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
An "August" Assortment: Words Worthy of Honor
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Several weeks into the rollout, the lofty goals of the accounts are being confronted by day-to-day realities.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Indeed, that was another lofty ambition: to build consensus across party lines and in the process detoxify Britain's political discourse.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
The rocket company has rapidly expanded its satellite internet service and voiced lofty ambitions for AI data centers in space.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
Mr. McKellen’s lofty reading does produce the occasional half-swallowed word, so listeners may need to replay some passages, but in every other respect they are in the hands of a master and can relax.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
It’s a lofty goal, but I ain’t ever been one for half measures.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
Over time, the promise of fair pricing became enmeshed with an even loftier assurance: by partnering with “ethical factories,” it would sell better-made clothing in a way that didn’t run afoul of the customer’s morals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
In fact, allowing yourself to spend money on hobbies or experiences can actually help you stay on track to accomplish your bigger, loftier goals.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 27, 2026
Though the footballer has loftier ambitions for the meeting in Washington - world peace.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2025
Coming off back-to-back seasons finishing outside of the Associated Press Top 25, Riley said he’s had to change aspects of the program to push toward loftier results.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2025
Let me explain what I mean by sharing my reaction to another passage, this one much loftier in tone and ambition than “Ask the Bird Folks.”
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
While Halma’s guidance clears the consensus bar, it might fall short of the loftiest expectations, analysts at Jefferies wrote in a note to clients.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
US gross domestic product in the third quarter came in at 4.3 percent on an annualized basis, easily topping expectations and the loftiest growth in two years.
From Barron's ● Dec. 23, 2025
Ascending to football's loftiest heights challenges the senses, and Girona's surefootenedness at this level is already being rigorously tested.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2024
And for the loftiest goal — a spot inside the top of the six spots in the West — the Lakers need to win.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
They were all three of the loftiest stature of women.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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.
