higher still: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “higher still” mean?
Used to indicate an increase or progression beyond an already high level or amount.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Used to indicate an increase or progression beyond an already high level or amount.
Can express surprise or emphasis at a degree of escalation, often in comparative contexts or when discussing rankings, prices, achievements, or expectations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical; the phrase is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both, though can carry connotations of ambition, inflation, or excess depending on context.
Frequency
Equal frequency. Slightly more formal than alternatives like 'even higher' or 'higher yet'.
Grammar
How to Use “higher still” in a Sentence
[Subject] + verb (rise/push/climb) + higher still.Let's/We must + take/aim/push + [object] + higher still.[Subject] + is/are + higher still + [prepositional phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “higher still” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The costs are likely to rise higher still next quarter.
- We must push our standards higher still.
American English
- Interest rates could climb higher still this fall.
- The team aims to drive efficiency higher still.
adverb
British English
- After the adjustment, the values sat higher still on the graph.
- She jumped high, but her sister leapt higher still.
American English
- The temperature climbed higher still after noon.
- His latest score was high, but hers was higher still.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to discuss profit targets, stock prices, or performance goals: 'Q2 profits exceeded forecasts, and Q3 projections are higher still.'
Academic
Used in data analysis or theoretical progression: 'The initial results were significant, but the refined model's predictive power was higher still.'
Everyday
Used conversationally about prices, scores, or expectations: 'I thought rent was expensive last year, but this year it's higher still.'
Technical
Used in engineering, physics, or computing to describe thresholds or values: 'The baseline pressure was 50 bar, but during the test phase it surged higher still.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “higher still”
- Using 'more higher still' (double comparative error).
- Using 'high still' instead of 'higher still'.
- Placing 'still' before 'higher' (e.g., 'still higher' is acceptable, but 'higher still' is the fixed phrase for emphasis).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but leans slightly towards formal or written contexts. In very casual speech, 'even higher' is more common.
It's uncommon but possible for stylistic effect, e.g., 'Higher still soared the eagle, beyond our sight.' Typically, it follows the verb it modifies.
They are largely interchangeable in meaning. 'Higher still' often carries a slightly more emphatic or dramatic tone, while 'still higher' can sound more neutral or descriptive.
No, it is most commonly used metaphorically for degrees, levels, amounts, prices, rankings, and intensities, not just physical altitude.
Used to indicate an increase or progression beyond an already high level or amount.
Higher still: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪə stɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪər stɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Reach for the stars, and then aim higher still.”
- “The bar was set high, but they raised it higher still.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a climber on a high mountain who says, 'This is high,' then looks up and sees a peak 'higher still'.
Conceptual Metaphor
UP IS MORE / BETTER. Ascending a vertical scale represents increase in quantity, quality, or intensity.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'higher still' used CORRECTLY?