lofty
Americanadjective
-
loftier,
comparative
-
loftiest
superlative
-
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
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An "August" Assortment: Words Worthy of Honor
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"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
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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:
Dart delirium was growing among Giants fans after the quarterback threw for three touchdowns and had a lofty passer rating of 134.2 in a 28-20 season-opening win over Dallas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
It’s been a rough stretch for Intel shares as investors wonder how the chip manufacturer will sustain its lofty valuation.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
The high-yield savings account may not feel so lofty these days.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
After leading the Bears to their first division title in seven years last season, head coach Ben Johnson has set some lofty targets.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
As a young man, I was unlike McCandless in many important regards; most notably, I possessed neither his intellect nor his lofty ideals.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
They may reach arguably loftier artistic heights with “Revolver,” “Sgt. Pepper,” “The White Album,” or “Abbey Road” — take your pick — but “Rubber Soul” embodies the group’s decisive turn towards self-conscious greatness.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 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
Companies with the most tangible ties to AI energy demand are already trading at loftier multiples than tech giants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025
The loftier idea is to grow so well that UK comics become recognised as a vital part of the nation's creative output, and by extension, the economy.
From BBC ● Dec. 13, 2025
And its hills are loftier, craggier, more difficult and forbidding than Vermont’s.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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
He has a new team and a different perspective after being on a team that achieved the loftiest of collective goals.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 23, 2024
But buried among his arcane formulations were insights of the loftiest brilliance.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
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.
