lofty
- 01 C1 Advanced
very high or tall, like a mountain or a ceiling.
rising to a great height; physically towering or elevated.
Simple“The cathedral had lofty ceilings that made the visitors feel very small.”
In context“From our vantage point, we could see the lofty peaks of the Alps piercing through the morning mist.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
having high standards or grand, noble goals.
elevated in character and spirit; noble or sublime in aim.
Simple“The politician spoke about lofty goals like world peace and ending poverty.”
In context“While the manifesto outlined several lofty ideals, critics argued that it lacked a practical framework for implementation.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
acting like you are better or more important than other people.
showing a superior or haughty attitude toward others.
Simple“He spoke in a lofty tone that made his colleagues feel insulted.”
In context“The manager's lofty dismissal of the staff's concerns led to a significant decline in office morale.”
“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.”
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.