High vs. Hi — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 3, 2024
"High" generally refers to something elevated or intense, while "hi" is a casual greeting.
Difference Between High and Hi
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Key Differences
"High" is often used to describe physical elevation, such as a high mountain or high shelf, whereas "hi" is used informally to acknowledge someone's presence or to start a conversation.
In terms of usage, "high" can also denote a level of intensity or quality, like high temperature or high quality, while "hi" remains restricted to the realm of informal salutations.
"High" has a versatile role in language, appearing in phrases like "high hopes" or "high risk," suggesting extremes in scenarios, whereas "hi" is straightforward and limited in its application to greetings.
The emotional context of "high" can imply a state of euphoria or intoxication, whereas "hi" simply conveys friendliness and openness without any implication of emotional state.
From a linguistic perspective, "high" functions as an adjective, adverb, or noun, while "hi" functions primarily as an interjection, showcasing their different grammatical roles.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective, Adverb, Noun
Interjection
Usage Contexts
Physical elevation, intensity, quality
Casual greeting
Emotional Connotation
Can imply extremes, including euphoria
Friendly, neutral
Example Phrases
High speed, high quality
N/A
Common Phrases
High and dry, high tide
N/A
Compare with Definitions
High
Denoting a high degree or intensity.
She has high standards.
Hi
A light and informal way of greeting on the phone.
Hi, it's me, can we talk?
High
Referring to a state of euphoria or intoxication.
He felt high after the concert.
Hi
A casual greeting or expression of friendliness.
Hi, how are you today?
High
Used to describe something elevated.
The kite flew high in the sky.
Hi
Used in informal written communication.
Hi everyone, welcome to the group chat.
High
Indicating a point of measurement.
The water reached a high mark.
Hi
Used to attract attention briefly.
Hi, could you help me with this?
High
Used in expressions denoting difficulty or disadvantage.
They were left high and dry.
Hi
A quick acknowledgment in passing.
She said hi as she passed by.
High
Of great vertical extent
The top of a high mountain
Hi
Used to express greeting. See Note at hey.
High
Great, or greater than normal, in quantity, size, or intensity
A high temperature
Sweets are very high in calories
Hi
A friendly, informal, casual greeting said upon someone's arrival.
Hi, how are you?
I just dropped by to say “hi”.
High
Great in rank, status, or importance
Both held high office under Lloyd George
Financial security is high on your list of priorities
Hi
An exclamation to call attention.
High
(of a sound or note) having a frequency at the upper end of the auditory range
A high, squeaky voice
Hi
(dated) Expressing wonder or derision.
High
Feeling euphoric, especially from the effects of drugs or alcohol
Some of them were high on Ecstasy
She wasn't tipsy, just a little high
Hi
The word "hi" used as a greeting.
I didn't even get a hi.
High
(especially of food) unpleasantly strong-smelling because beginning to go bad
It's a type of preserved butter, used for cooking, smells a little high
Hi
Informal spelling of high, often in hyphenated terms.
Get hi-quality videos here!
High
(of a vowel) produced with the tongue relatively near the palate.
Hi
An expression of greeting;
Every morning they exchanged polite hellos
High
A high point, level, or figure
Commodity prices were at a rare high
Hi
A state in the United States in the central Pacific on the Hawaiian Islands
High
A notably happy or successful moment
The highs and lows of life
High
High school
I go to junior high
High
At or to a considerable or specified height
The sculpture stood about five feet high
A dish piled high with baked beans
High
Highly
He ranked high among the pioneers of chemical technology
High
(of a sound) at or to a high pitch
My voice went high with excitement
High
Having a relatively great elevation; extending far upward
A high mountain.
A high tower.
High
Extending a specified distance upward
A cabinet ten feet high.
High
Far or farther from a reference point
Was too high in the offensive zone to take a shot.
High
Being at or near the peak or culminating stage
The high tourist season.
High summer.
High
Advanced in development or complexity
High forms of animal life.
Higher mathematics.
High
Far removed in time; remote
High antiquity.
High
Slightly spoiled or tainted; gamy. Used of meat.
High
Having a bad smell; malodorous.
High
Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively large number of sound-wave cycles per second
The high tones of a flute.
High
Raised in pitch; not soft or hushed
A high voice.
High
Situated relatively far from the equator
A high latitude.
High
Of great importance
Set a high priority on funding the housing program.
High
Eminent in rank or status
A high official.
High
Serious; grave
High crimes and misdemeanors.
High
Constituting a climax; crucial
The chase scene is the high point of the film.
High
Characterized by lofty or stirring events or themes
High adventure.
High drama.
High
Lofty or exalted in quality or character
A person of high morals.
High
Greater than usual or expected, as in quantity, magnitude, cost, or degree
“A high price has to be paid for the happy marriage with the four healthy children” (Doris Lessing).
High
Favorable
He has a high opinion of himself.
High
Of great force or violence
High winds.
High
(Informal) Excited or euphoric
High spirits.
High
(Slang) Intoxicated by alcohol or a drug, such as cocaine or marijuana.
High
Luxurious; extravagant
High living.
High
(Linguistics) Of or relating to vowels produced with part of the tongue close to the palate, as in the vowel of tree.
High
Of, relating to, or being the gear configuration or setting, as in an automotive transmission, that produces the greatest vehicular speed with respect to engine speed.
High
At, in, or to a lofty position, level, or degree
Saw a plane flying high in the sky.
Prices that had gone too high.
High
In an extravagant or luxurious way
Made a fortune and lived high.
High
A lofty place or region.
High
A high level or degree
Summer temperatures reached an all-time high.
High
The high gear configuration of a transmission.
High
A center of high atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone.
High
(Informal) An excited or euphoric condition
The team was on a high after winning in overtime.
High
(Slang) An intoxicated or euphoric condition induced by alcohol or a drug.
High
Physically elevated, extending above a base or average level:
High
Very elevated; extending or being far above a base; tall; lofty.
The balloon rose high in the sky.
The wall was high.
A high mountain
High
Relatively elevated; rising or raised above the average or normal level from which elevation is measured.
High
Above the batter's shoulders.
The pitch (or: the ball) was high
High
Pertaining to (or, especially of a language: spoken in) in an area which is at a greater elevation, for example more mountainous, than other regions.
High
Having a specified elevation or height; tall.
Three feet high
Three Mount Everests high
High
Elevated in status, esteem, or prestige, or in importance or development; exalted in rank, station, or character.
The oldest of the elves' royal family still conversed in High Elvish.
High
Most exalted; foremost.
The high priest, the high officials of the court, the high altar
High
Of great importance and consequence: grave (if negative) or solemn (if positive).
High crimes, the high festival of the sun
High
Consummate; advanced (e.g. in development) to the utmost extent or culmination, or possessing a quality in its supreme degree, at its zenith.
High (i.e. intense) heat; high (i.e. full or quite) noon; high (i.e. rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i.e. complete) pleasure; high (i.e. deep or vivid) colour; high (i.e. extensive, thorough) scholarship; high tide; high [tourism] season; the High Middle Ages
High
Advanced in complexity (and hence potentially abstract and/or difficult to comprehend).
High
(in several set phrases) Very traditionalist and conservative, especially in favoring older ways of doing things; see e.g. high church, High Tory.
High
Elevated in mood; marked by great merriment, excitement, etc.
In high spirits
High
(of a lifestyle) Luxurious; rich.
High living, the high life
High
Lofty, often to the point of arrogant, haughty, boastful, proud.
A high tone
High
(with "on" or "about") Keen, enthused.
High
With tall waves.
High
Remote (to the north or south) from the equator; situated at (or constituting) a latitude which is expressed by a large number.
High latitude, fish species in high arctic and antarctic areas
High
Large, great (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc).
My bank charges me a high interest rate.
I was running a high temperature and had high cholesterol.
High voltage
High prices
High winds
A high number
High
Having a large or comparatively larger concentration of (a substance, which is often but not always linked by "in" when predicative).
Carrots are high in vitamin A.
Made from a high-copper alloy
High
(acoustics) Acute or shrill in pitch, due to being of greater frequency, i.e. produced by more rapid vibrations (wave oscillations).
The note was too high for her to sing.
High
(phonetics) Made with some part of the tongue positioned high in the mouth, relatively close to the palate.
High
(card games) Greater in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc.
High
(poker) Having the highest rank in a straight, flush or straight flush.
I have KT742 of the same suit. In other words, a K-high flush.
9-high straight = 98765 unsuited
Royal Flush = AKQJT suited = A-high straight flush
High
(of a card or hand) Winning; able to take a trick, win a round, etc.
North's hand was high. East was in trouble.
High
Strong-scented; slightly tainted/spoiled; beginning to decompose.
Epicures do not cook game before it is high.
The tailor liked his meat high.
High
(informal) intoxicated; under the influence of a mood-altering drug, formerly usually alcohol, but now (from the mid-20th century) usually not alcohol but rather marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.
High
Near, in its direction of travel, to the (direction of the) wind.
High
Positioned up the field, towards the opposing team's goal.
Our defensive line is too high.
High
In or to an elevated position.
How high above land did you fly?
The desks were piled high with magazines.
High
In or at a great value.
Costs have grown higher this year again.
High
At a pitch of great frequency.
I certainly can't sing that high.
High
A high point or position, literally (as, an elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven).or figuratively (as, a point of success or achievement; a time when things are at their best, greatest, most numerous, maximum, etc).
It was one of the highs of his career.
Inflation reached a ten-year high.
High
The maximum atmospheric temperature recorded at a particular location, especially during one 24-hour period.
Today's high was 32 °C.
High
A period of euphoria, from excitement or from an intake of drugs.
That pill gave me a high for a few hours, before I had a comedown.
High
A drug that gives such a high.
High
A large area of elevated atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone.
A large high is centred on the Azores.
High
(card games) The highest card dealt or drawn.
High
(obsolete) Thought; intention; determination; purpose.
High
(obsolete) To rise.
The sun higheth.
High
To hie; to hasten.
High
To hie.
Men must high them apace, and make haste.
High
To rise; as, the sun higheth.
High
Elevated above any starting point of measurement, as a line, or surface; having altitude; lifted up; raised or extended in the direction of the zenith; lofty; tall; as, a high mountain, tower, tree; the sun is high.
High
Regarded as raised up or elevated; distinguished; remarkable; conspicuous; superior; - used indefinitely or relatively, and often in figurative senses, which are understood from the connection
High
Elevated in character or quality, whether moral or intellectual; preëminent; honorable; as, high aims, or motives.
High
Possessing a characteristic quality in a supreme or superior degree; as, high (i. e., intense) heat; high (i. e., full or quite) noon; high (i. e., rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i. e., complete) pleasure; high (i. e., deep or vivid) color; high (i. e., extensive, thorough) scholarship, etc.
High time it is this war now ended were.
High sauces and spices are fetched from the Indies.
High
Exalted in social standing or general estimation, or in rank, reputation, office, and the like; dignified; as, she was welcomed in the highest circles.
He was a wight of high renown.
High
Strong-scented; slightly tainted; as, epicures do not cook game before it is high.
High
Of noble birth; illustrious; as, of high family.
High
Acute or sharp; - opposed to grave or low; as, a high note.
High
Of great strength, force, importance, and the like; strong; mighty; powerful; violent; sometimes, triumphant; victorious; majestic, etc.; as, a high wind; high passions.
Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
Can heavenly minds such high resentment show?
High
Made with a high position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate, as ē (ēve), Ō (fŌd). See Guide to Pronunciation, 10, 11.
High
Very abstract; difficult to comprehend or surmount; grand; noble.
Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
Plain living and high thinking are no more.
High
Costly; dear in price; extravagant; as, to hold goods at a high price.
If they must be good at so high a rate, they know they may be safe at a cheaper.
High
Arrogant; lofty; boastful; proud; ostentatious; - used in a bad sense.
An high look and a proud heart . . . is sin.
His forces, after all the high discourses, amounted really but to eighteen hundred foot.
High
In a high manner; in a high place; to a great altitude; to a great degree; largely; in a superior manner; eminently; powerfully.
High
An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.
High
People of rank or high station; as, high and low.
High
The highest card dealt or drawn.
The dayspring from on high hath visited us.
High
A lofty level or position or degree;
Summer temperatures reached an all-time high
High
An air mass of higher than normal pressure;
The east coast benefits from a Bermuda high
High
A state of sustained elation;
I'm on a permanent high these days
High
A state of altered consciousness induced by alcohol or narcotics;
They took drugs to get a high on
High
A high place;
They stood on high and observed the coutryside
He doesn't like heights
High
A public secondary school usually including grades 9 through 12;
He goes to the neighborhood highschool
High
A forward gear with a gear ratio giving high vehicle velocity for a given engine speed
High
Greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount;
A high temperature
A high price
The high point of his career
High risks
Has high hopes
The river is high
He has a high opinion of himself
High
(literal meanings) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like `knee-high');
A high mountain
High ceilings
High buildings
A high forehead
A high incline
A foot high
High
Standing above others in quality or position;
People in high places
The high priest
Eminent members of the community
High
Used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency
High
Happy and excited and energetic
High
Used of the smell of game beginning to taint
High
Slightly and pleasantly intoxicated from alcohol or a drug (especially marijuana)
High
At a great altitude;
He climbed high on the ladder
High
In or to a high position, amount, or degree;
Prices have gone up far too high
High
In a rich manner;
He lives high
High
Far up toward the source;
He lives high up the river
Common Curiosities
What grammatical role does "high" play?
"High" can be an adjective, adverb, or noun depending on the context.
Is "hi" appropriate for formal greetings?
No, "hi" is typically used in informal contexts.
What is the primary use of "high"?
"High" is primarily used to describe elevation, intensity, or quality.
Can "high" describe emotions?
Yes, "high" can describe heightened emotional states, such as euphoria.
Can "high" refer to physical locations?
Yes, "high" can refer to physically elevated locations or positions.
What synonyms could replace "hi" in a greeting?
Synonyms for "hi" include "hello" and "hey."
Is "hi" used globally?
Yes, "hi" is recognized and used globally as a casual greeting.
Does "high" have any technical uses?
Yes, "high" is used technically in settings like weather (high pressure) and finance (high yield).
How is "hi" typically used in conversation?
"Hi" is used as a casual salutation or greeting in conversation.
How does the usage of "high" differ in expressions?
In expressions, "high" often signifies extremities or challenges, as in "high seas" or "high stakes."
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
