Tall — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈtȯl/

Meaning & Definition of Tall

Tall (adjective)

  1. high in stature
  2. of a specified height
  3. of considerable height

Tall (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. extending to a great distance upward

    "tall skyscrapers that cast long shadows over the park"

    similar: altitudinous, high, lofty, towering
    related: dominant, dominating, eminent, prominent, elevated, lifted, raised, uplifted, upswept, high-rise, statuesque
    opposite: low, low-lying, short, squat
    near: flat, stubby, stumpy

  2. requiring considerable physical or mental effort

    "that's a pretty tall order"

    similar: arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling, hard, heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel, rigorous, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, testing, toilsome, tough, uphill
    related: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic, recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky, bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying, annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious, grievous, grim, strict, stringent, brutal, cruel, inhuman, painful
    opposite: cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding
    near: achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated, comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing, accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly

Related Entry: Tall ship (noun)

Tall ship is a different word from Tall. The synonyms below are for tall ship, not for tall.

  1. as in yacht, sailboat

    similar: bark, brig, brigantine, caravel, clipper, junk, ketch, sailboat, schooner, square-rigger, windjammer, xebec, yacht, aircraft carrier, argosy, barge, coaster, collier, containership, corvette, cruiser, cutter, destroyer, ferryboat, flagship, freighter, icebreaker, ironclad, lightship, liner, man-of-war, merchantman, merchant ship, motor ship, packet, steamer, steamship, superliner, supertanker, tanker, trader, tramp, transport, warship, watercraft, boat, keel, ship, vessel

Related Entry: Tall ships (noun)

Tall ships is a different word from Tall. The synonyms below are for tall ships, not for tall.

  1. as in yachts, sailboats

    similar: barks, brigantines, brigs, caravels, clippers, junk, ketches, sailboats, schooners, square-riggers, windjammers, xebecs, yachts, aircraft carriers, argosies, barges, coasters, colliers, containerships, corvettes, cruisers, cutters, destroyers, ferryboats, flagships, freighters, icebreakers, ironclads, lightships, liners, men-of-war, merchantmen, merchant ships, motor ships, packets, steamers, steamships, superliners, supertankers, tankers, traders, tramps, transports, warships, watercrafts, boats, keels, ships, vessels

Related Entry: Stand (verb)

Stand is a different word from Tall. The synonyms below are for stand, not for tall.

  1. to occupy a place or location

    "the monument stands in the middle of the town plaza"

    similar: be, bear, lie, sit
    related: command, overlook, hang around, remain, rest, stay, stick around, tarry, await, wait, post, station, dwell, reside

  2. to put up with (something painful or difficult)

    "I don't know how you can stand that job"

    similar: abide, absorb, accept, bear, bide (chiefly dialect), brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear (British), live with, lump (it), stand for, tough it out
    related: allow, permit, suffer, swallow, reconcile (to), acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)
    near: decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down, combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist, avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

  3. to give what is owed for

    "I'll stand lunch, and you can pay me back later"

    similar: ante (up), balance, clear, discharge, foot, liquidate, meet, pay, pay off, pay up, pony up, quit, recompense, settle, spring (for)
    opposite: repudiate

  4. to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes

    "if the city's baseball team wins today, they will stand first in the league"

    similar: be, grade, place, rank, rate
    related: seed, count, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartmentalize, group, separate, set, sort, install, instate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tall

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tall:

altitudinous, high, lofty, towering, arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling, hard, heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel, rigorous, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, testing, toilsome, tough, uphill

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Tall

Words with the opposite meaning of Tall:

low, low-lying, short, squat, cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding

Related Words for Tall

dominant, dominating, eminent, prominent, elevated, lifted, raised, uplifted, upswept, high-rise, statuesque, abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic, recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky

Near Antonyms of Tall

flat, stubby, stumpy, achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated, comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing, accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly

Word Forms of Tall

Derived words: tall (adverb), tallish (adjective), tallness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Tall

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

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Tall

Words & Phrases Containing Tall

tall fescue, tall oil, tall ship, tall order, tall tale/story, stand tall, walk tall, tallboy

Frequently Asked Questions about Tall

What does "Tall" mean?

"Tall" means high in stature. As an adjective, it is defined as: high in stature. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tall"?

Other words for "Tall" include altitudinous, high, lofty, towering, arduous, Augean, backbreaking and challenging. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tall" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tall"?

There are 88 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tall". Common alternatives include altitudinous, high, lofty, towering, arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding and difficult.

What is the opposite of "Tall"?

Antonyms of "Tall" include low, low-lying, short, squat, cheap, easy, effortless and facile. Near antonyms include flat, stubby, stumpy and achievable.

How do you use "Tall" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tall" in a sentence: "tall skyscrapers that cast long shadows over the park"; "that's a pretty tall order".

Is "Tall" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Tall" is an adjective.

Is "Tall" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Tall" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Tall"?

"Tall" is pronounced /ˈtȯl/.