High vs. Nigh — What's the Difference?

Of great vertical extent

Nigh is a surname.

Great, or greater than normal, in quantity, size, or intensity

Near in time, place, or relationship

Great in rank, status, or importance

Nearly; almost

(of a sound or note) having a frequency at the upper end of the auditory range

Being near in time, place, or relationship; close

Feeling euphoric, especially from the effects of drugs or alcohol

Being on the left side of an animal or vehicle

(especially of food) unpleasantly strong-smelling because beginning to go bad

Being the animal or vehicle on the left

(of a vowel) produced with the tongue relatively near the palate.

Not far from; near.

A high point, level, or figure

Near, close by

A notably happy or successful moment

Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate.

High school

(ambitransitive) to draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near

At or to a considerable or specified height

Almost, nearly.

Highly

Near; close to

(of a sound) at or to a high pitch

Not distant or remote in place or time; near.

Having a relatively great elevation; extending far upward

Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate.

Extending a specified distance upward

In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events; near.

Far or farther from a reference point

Almost; nearly; as, he was nigh dead.

Being at or near the peak or culminating stage

To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near.

Advanced in development or complexity

Near to; not remote or distant from.

Far removed in time; remote

Being on the left side;

Slightly spoiled or tainted; gamy. Used of meat.

Near in space or time

Having a bad smell; malodorous.

Near in time or place or relationship;

Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively large number of sound-wave cycles per second

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost';

Raised in pitch; not soft or hushed

Situated relatively far from the equator

Of great importance

Eminent in rank or status

Serious; grave

Constituting a climax; crucial

Characterized by lofty or stirring events or themes

Lofty or exalted in quality or character

Greater than usual or expected, as in quantity, magnitude, cost, or degree

Favorable

Of great force or violence

(Informal) Excited or euphoric

(Slang) Intoxicated by alcohol or a drug, such as cocaine or marijuana.

Luxurious; extravagant

(Linguistics) Of or relating to vowels produced with part of the tongue close to the palate, as in the vowel of tree.

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.

At, in, or to a lofty position, level, or degree

In an extravagant or luxurious way

A lofty place or region.

A high level or degree

The high gear configuration of a transmission.

A center of high atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone.

(Informal) An excited or euphoric condition

(Slang) An intoxicated or euphoric condition induced by alcohol or a drug.

Physically elevated, extending above a base or average level:

Very elevated; extending or being far above a base; tall; lofty.

Relatively elevated; rising or raised above the average or normal level from which elevation is measured.

Above the batter's shoulders.

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.

Having a specified elevation or height; tall.

Elevated in status, esteem, or prestige, or in importance or development; exalted in rank, station, or character.

Most exalted; foremost.

Of great importance and consequence: grave (if negative) or solemn (if positive).

Consummate; advanced (e.g. in development) to the utmost extent or culmination, or possessing a quality in its supreme degree, at its zenith.

Advanced in complexity (and hence potentially abstract and/or difficult to comprehend).

(in several set phrases) Very traditionalist and conservative, especially in favoring older ways of doing things; see e.g. high church, High Tory.

Elevated in mood; marked by great merriment, excitement, etc.

(of a lifestyle) Luxurious; rich.

Lofty, often to the point of arrogant, haughty, boastful, proud.

(with "on" or "about") Keen, enthused.

With tall waves.

Remote (to the north or south) from the equator; situated at (or constituting) a latitude which is expressed by a large number.

Large, great (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc).

Having a large or comparatively larger concentration of (a substance, which is often but not always linked by "in" when predicative).

(acoustics) Acute or shrill in pitch, due to being of greater frequency, i.e. produced by more rapid vibrations (wave oscillations).

(phonetics) Made with some part of the tongue positioned high in the mouth, relatively close to the palate.

(card games) Greater in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc.

(poker) Having the highest rank in a straight, flush or straight flush.

(of a card or hand) Winning; able to take a trick, win a round, etc.

Strong-scented; slightly tainted/spoiled; beginning to decompose.

(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.

Near, in its direction of travel, to the (direction of the) wind.

Positioned up the field, towards the opposing team's goal.

In or to an elevated position.

In or at a great value.

At a pitch of great frequency.

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).

The maximum atmospheric temperature recorded at a particular location, especially during one 24-hour period.

A period of euphoria, from excitement or from an intake of drugs.

A drug that gives such a high.

A large area of elevated atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone.

(card games) The highest card dealt or drawn.

(obsolete) Thought; intention; determination; purpose.

(obsolete) To rise.

To hie; to hasten.

To hie.

To rise; as, the sun higheth.

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.

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

Elevated in character or quality, whether moral or intellectual; preëminent; honorable; as, high aims, or motives.

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.

Exalted in social standing or general estimation, or in rank, reputation, office, and the like; dignified; as, she was welcomed in the highest circles.

Strong-scented; slightly tainted; as, epicures do not cook game before it is high.

Of noble birth; illustrious; as, of high family.

Acute or sharp; - opposed to grave or low; as, a high note.

Of great strength, force, importance, and the like; strong; mighty; powerful; violent; sometimes, triumphant; victorious; majestic, etc.; as, a high wind; high passions.

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.

Very abstract; difficult to comprehend or surmount; grand; noble.

Costly; dear in price; extravagant; as, to hold goods at a high price.

Arrogant; lofty; boastful; proud; ostentatious; - used in a bad sense.

In a high manner; in a high place; to a great altitude; to a great degree; largely; in a superior manner; eminently; powerfully.

An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.

People of rank or high station; as, high and low.

The highest card dealt or drawn.

A lofty level or position or degree;

An air mass of higher than normal pressure;

A state of sustained elation;

A state of altered consciousness induced by alcohol or narcotics;

A high place;

A public secondary school usually including grades 9 through 12;

A forward gear with a gear ratio giving high vehicle velocity for a given engine speed

Greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount;

(literal meanings) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like `knee-high');

Standing above others in quality or position;

Used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency

Happy and excited and energetic

Used of the smell of game beginning to taint

Slightly and pleasantly intoxicated from alcohol or a drug (especially marijuana)

At a great altitude;

In or to a high position, amount, or degree;

In a rich manner;

Far up toward the source;