high jump: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral, Technical (Sports)
Quick answer
What does “high jump” mean?
A track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights.
Used figuratively to describe a significant challenge, obstacle, or a test of ability that one must overcome.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; the event name is identical. 'Athletics' (UK) vs. 'Track and field' (US) is the broader category.
Connotations
Identical sporting connotations. Figurative use is equally understood.
Frequency
Equal frequency in sports contexts. Slightly higher general cultural recognition in the UK due to prominence in school athletics.
Grammar
How to Use “high jump” in a Sentence
[subject] does/competes in/enters the high jumpa high jump of [measurement]the high jump [event/competition/final]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “high jump” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She is the current high-jump champion.
- The high-jump record was broken.
American English
- He set a new high-jump world record.
- The high-jump bar was set at 2.40 meters.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figuratively: 'The new regulations present a high jump for small businesses.'
Academic
Used in sports science literature discussing biomechanics or training methodologies.
Everyday
Primarily in the context of watching sports, school sports days, or the Olympics.
Technical
Precise term in athletics rulebooks, coaching manuals, and competition schedules.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “high jump”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “high jump”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high jump”
- Writing as one word: 'highjump' (incorrect). Using 'high jump' as a verb (e.g., 'He high jumps well') is non-standard; prefer 'He competes in the high jump' or 'He is a high jumper'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as two separate words: 'high jump'.
A 'high jumper' (two words as a noun phrase, often hyphenated as 'high-jumper').
No, it is not standard. Use 'compete in the high jump', 'do the high jump', or 'high-jump' (hyphenated) only informally as a verb.
In the high jump, athletes jump over a bar using only their own body's spring. In the pole vault, they use a flexible pole to propel themselves over a much higher bar.
A track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights.
High jump is usually neutral, technical (sports) in register.
High jump: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈdʒʌmp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈdʒʌmp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"That's a high jump to clear" (figurative: a difficult task)”
- “"He's facing the high jump" (UK slang, archaic: facing severe punishment/court-martial)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a jumper going HIGH up, and you JUMP with excitement. HIGH + JUMP = the event.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS AN ATHLETICS COMPETITION ("Getting that promotion was a real high jump").
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, what does 'facing a high jump' typically mean?