lofty

[lawf-tee, lof-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lofty ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, loft·i·er, loft·i·est.

extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering: lofty mountains.

exalted in rank, dignity, or character; eminent.

elevated in style, tone, or sentiment, as writings or speech.

arrogantly or condescendingly superior in manner; haughty: to treat someone in a lofty manner.

Nautical. noting a rig of a sailing ship having extraordinarily high masts.

(of fabric or yarn) thick and resilient.

Origin of lofty

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at loft, -y¹

Related formsloft·i·ly, adverbloft·i·ness, nouno·ver·loft·i·ly, adverbo·ver·loft·i·ness, nouno·ver·loft·y, adjectiveun·loft·y, adjective

Synonyms for lofty

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lofty ON THESAURUS.COM

1. elevated. See high. 3. sublime. 4. supercilious.

Antonyms for lofty

2. lowly. 4. humble.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for lofty

towering, soaring, exalted, noble, utopian, grandiose, high-minded, ambitious, aerial, airy, raised, tall, sky-high, high-rise, lifted, skyscraping, skyward, spiring, benevolent, big

Examples from the Web for lofty

Contemporary Examples of lofty

Be reliable supports of the Songun revolution possessed of a lofty spirit and rich knowledge!
North Korea's Top College: Brainwash U
Justin Rohrlich
December 13, 2014
Powell ranks with Patrick Smith in the hierarchy of Florida historical novelists and that is lofty territory, indeed.
Book Bag: Overlooked Classic Books From the Sunshine State
Randy Wayne White
September 30, 2014
There is a tradition in this country stretching back to Thomas Jefferson of lofty ideals for our colleges and universities.
College Must Be More Than Just a Classy Trade School
Michael S. Roth
August 30, 2014
As always, its leaders paid lip service to lofty ideals to obscure the ugly base alloys.
A Brief History of Wingnuts in America; From George Washington to Woodstock
John Avlon
August 17, 2014
Travel with lofty purpose really began when it was accessible only to a small and privileged class with unlimited time to travel.
Obama’s Extravagant Summer Break? More Like, America’s Vacation-Deficit Disorder
Clive Irving
August 10, 2014

Historical Examples of lofty

He regarded the lofty ridges and the deep gaps with apprehension.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
This lofty and blase greeting can come from none other than Roland Barnette.
The Fortune Hunter
Louis Joseph Vance
Such absolute and lofty ideas they are, that they can descend to no compromise.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
You retain your lofty calm: but inside you are little quivers of rapture.
The Forest
Stewart Edward White
In a lofty way he received the attentions of the multitudes of strange gods.
White Fang
Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for lofty

lofty

adjective loftier or loftiest

of majestic or imposing height

exalted or noble in character or nature

haughty or supercilious

elevated, eminent, or superior

Derived Formsloftily, adverbloftiness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for lofty

adj.

"exalted, of high rank," early 15c.; also "with a high purpose," from loft + -y (2). From early 14c. as a surname. Literal sense of "high" is attested from 1580s. Related: Loftily; loftiness.