tall

adjective

ˈtȯl 

1

a

: high in stature

b

: of a specified height

five feet tall

2

a

: of considerable height

tall trees

b

: long from bottom to top

a tall book

c

: of a higher growing variety or species of plant

3

a

: large or formidable in amount, extent, or degree

a tall order to fill

b

: pompous, high-flown

tall talk about the vast mysteries of life

—W. A. White

c

: highly exaggerated : incredible, improbable

a tall story

4

obsolete : brave, courageous

tall adverb

tallish

ˈtȯ-lish 

adjective

tallness

ˈtȯl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• altitudinous
• high
• lofty
• towering

Choose the Right Synonym for tall

high, tall, lofty mean above the average in height.

high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill

a high ceiling

tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

Examples of tall in a Sentence

All the children in my family grew up to be very tall.

My mother is short but my father is fairly tall.

The giraffe is the tallest animal.

The drinks were served in tall glasses.

She is five feet tall.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the photos, the couple can be seen on the roof of a tall building in front of a colorful flower arch featuring roses, sunflowers, and greenery. —Tabitha Parent, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025

These tall, slender plants are easily maintained in a compact form. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Jan. 2025

Approaching from the south, through a sunken courtyard, visitors will see the jagged fins—the tallest some ten metres high—against the Victorian Gothic backdrop of the Palace of Westminster. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025

This is survival horror at its best: a love letter to a genre that still stands tall in its OG 3D format. —Matt Gardner, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tal, probably from Old English getæl quick, ready; akin to Old High German gizal quick

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing tall

• stand tall
• tall boy
• tall fescue
• tall oil
• tall order
• tall order to fill
• tall ship
• tall tale/story
• walk tall

Kids Definition

tall

adjective

ˈtȯl 

1

a

: having unusually great height

b

: of a specified height

five feet tall

2

a

: large in amount, extent, or degree

a tall order to fill

b

: greatly exaggerated : improbable

a tall tale

tall adverb

tallness noun