high-five: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, colloquial. Common in everyday speech, sports contexts, and informal writing. Rare in formal or academic prose.
Quick answer
What does “high-five” mean?
A celebratory gesture where two people slap each other's raised open hand, typically at head height or above, to express congratulations, greeting, or shared excitement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A celebratory gesture where two people slap each other's raised open hand, typically at head height or above, to express congratulations, greeting, or shared excitement.
Used metaphorically to signify any form of enthusiastic approval, shared success, or mutual congratulation. Can also function as a verb meaning to perform this gesture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word and gesture are equally common and understood in both varieties. No significant semantic or usage differences.
Connotations
Universally connotes casual celebration, success, or camaraderie. Slightly more stereotypically associated with American sports culture, but thoroughly nativized in the UK.
Frequency
Equally frequent in informal contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “high-five” in a Sentence
[Subject] gives/gets a high-five.[Subject] high-fives [Object].[Subject] and [Subject] exchange high-fives.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “high-five” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- He gave me a massive high-five when I told him the news.
- A quick high-five was all the celebration they allowed themselves.
American English
- She walked down the hall receiving high-fives from her colleagues.
- That presentation deserves a high-five, at the very least.
verb
British English
- The players high-fived after the winning goal.
- Go on, high-five your teammate for that brilliant pass!
American English
- She high-fived everyone in the office after the deal closed.
- The coach high-fived his star player as he came off the field.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in very informal team settings ("That's a high-five for the sales team!").
Academic
Extremely rare, except perhaps in sociolinguistic or cultural studies discussing the gesture.
Everyday
Very common for celebrating small wins, greetings among friends, or congratulating children.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “high-five”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “high-five”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high-five”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Incorrect verb form: "He high-fived to me" (correct: "He high-fived me").
- Spelling: confusing 'high-five' with 'hi-five' (the latter is informal variant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard form is hyphenated: 'high-five'. The unhyphenated 'high five' is also seen, especially in noun uses, but the hyphenated form is preferred, particularly for the verb.
Yes, it's very common as a verb (e.g., 'They high-fived'). The past tense is 'high-fived'.
The gesture is widely believed to have originated in American sports, particularly baseball or basketball, in the late 1970s. The term follows naturally from the action: a hand ('five') raised 'high'.
Yes, a 'low-five' is a similar hand-slap gesture performed at waist level or lower. It is less celebratory and sometimes used for quieter acknowledgement or as part of a routine. It is much less common than 'high-five'.
A celebratory gesture where two people slap each other's raised open hand, typically at head height or above, to express congratulations, greeting, or shared excitement.
High-five is usually informal, colloquial. common in everyday speech, sports contexts, and informal writing. rare in formal or academic prose. in register.
High-five: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈfaɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈfaɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “High-five moment (a moment worthy of celebration)”
- “Leave someone hanging (to not return a proffered high-five)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the FIVE fingers on your hand raised HIGH in the air to slap someone else's hand.
Conceptual Metaphor
PHYSICAL GESTURE IS SOCIAL BONDING / CELEBRATION IS PHYSICAL CONTACT
Practice
Quiz
In which context would using the word 'high-five' be LEAST appropriate?