# high street

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/high-street
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

the main street in a town or city where you find the most important shops and businesses.

## Examples

- I am going to the high street to buy some new shoes.
- The high street looks beautiful when the holiday lights are on.
- Parking is very expensive near the high street during the day.
- Many small shops on the high street are struggling to compete with online stores.
- You can find several major banks and a large post office located right on the high street.
- We usually meet at the fountain on the high street before we go to the cinema.
- If you want to grab a quick lunch, there are several affordable sandwich shops and cafes just a short walk away on the high street.
- The city council plans to renovate the high street to encourage more foot traffic and support local business owners.

## Origin

From Middle English Highestrete. The term originated as a descriptive name for a principal road before the specific standardisation of capitalisation was established in the language. The modern usage shifted through metonymy, moving from the physical location of a town's primary thoroughfare to represent the common interests and activities of the general public.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.