Word
lofty
US/ˈɫɔfti/
UK/lˈɒfti/
Definitions
01physically high
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. very high or tall, like a mountain or a ceiling.
adj. rising to a great height; physically towering or elevated.
“The cathedral had lofty ceilings that made the visitors feel very small.”
“From our vantage point, we could see the lofty peaks of the Alps piercing through the morning mist.”
02noble or grand ideas
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. having high standards or grand, noble goals.
adj. elevated in character and spirit; noble or sublime in aim.
“The politician spoke about lofty goals like world peace and ending poverty.”
“While the manifesto outlined several lofty ideals, critics argued that it lacked a practical framework for implementation.”
03proud or arrogant
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. acting like you are better or more important than other people.
adj. showing a superior or haughty attitude toward others.
“He spoke in a lofty tone that made his colleagues feel insulted.”
“The manager's lofty dismissal of the staff's concerns led to a significant decline in office morale.”
Real-World Examples
“The ambitions were lofty and broad, including scripted and unscripted projects, shows for all ages and documentaries.” “I think that’s critical.”
Some economists believe Starship is simply too big to fulfill all of SpaceX’s lofty goals, but Jones doesn’t buy it.” Etymology
From Middle English lofty, lofti, lofte (“of high rank; noble; ornate”), equivalent to loft (“sky, firmament; upper room”) + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/lofty