higher-up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal
Quick answer
What does “higher-up” mean?
A person of high rank or position within an organization.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person of high rank or position within an organization.
A senior person in a hierarchy who has authority over others, often used to refer collectively to those in management or leadership positions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally used and understood in both varieties, though slightly more common in American English corporate and military contexts.
Connotations
Slightly bureaucratic and impersonal. In the UK, might carry a slightly stronger nuance of 'the powers that be' or 'the brass.'
Frequency
Moderate frequency in business/organizational contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “higher-up” in a Sentence
the higher-upshigher-ups in [organization]decisions by the higher-upsVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal business term for senior executives or decision-makers, e.g., 'The higher-ups are reviewing the quarterly figures.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. May appear in organizational sociology or management studies discussing power structures informally.
Everyday
Used to refer to authority figures in any organization, e.g., 'I need to check with the higher-ups before I can approve your leave.'
Technical
Not a technical term; remains informal.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “higher-up”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “higher-up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “higher-up”
- Using as an adjective ('a higher-up manager' - incorrect). Forgetting the hyphen ('higher up' as a noun is incorrect). Pluralizing incorrectly ('higher-up' singular, 'higher-ups' plural).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is hyphenated: 'higher-up' (singular), 'higher-ups' (plural).
No, it functions only as a countable noun. Use 'higher-level' or 'senior' for adjectival uses.
It is informal and can sometimes carry a neutral, respectful, or slightly negative/sceptical connotation depending on context.
Yes, 'a higher-up' is grammatically correct, though the plural 'higher-ups' is more frequently used to refer to the group collectively.
A person of high rank or position within an organization.
Higher-up is usually informal in register.
Higher-up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪər ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪər ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go over someone's head to the higher-ups”
- “get the green light from the higher-ups”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an office building: the 'higher-ups' are literally on the higher floors (executive suites).
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL STRUCTURE AS PHYSICAL HIERARCHY (Up = more powerful/important).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'higher-ups' LEAST appropriate?