Lofty

Having great height or being elevated in status or quality; can describe something physically tall as well as lofty ideas or attitudes.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine walking into a grand cathedral with arches that rise high above you, and at the same time listening to a speaker describe lofty goals to improve society.

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Sounds Like

LOF-tee

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Looks Like

loft

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Remember This

Loft refers to an upper space such as an attic; the adjective loft y extends that sense of height to describe grandness or self-importance.

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Other Forms

loftinessnoun

loftilyadverb

loftieradjective

loftiestadjective

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Connect With

elevated, grand, high, noble, pretentious

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Note

Lofty describes both physical height and elevated, ambitious, or self-important attitudes. It can modify buildings, ideas, goals, or tones. The noun form is loftiness; the adverb form is loftily; the comparative and superlative forms are loftier and loftiest.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The cathedral's lofty ceilings gave the nave a sense of grandeur.
She set lofty goals for her career and trained relentlessly to achieve them.

Synonyms

toweringelevatedgrandnobleexalted

Antonyms

lowhumblemodest

Etymology

From the noun loft (an upper space such as an attic), which derives from Old English loft meaning height or upper room; the adjective sense 'high or elevated' developed from that sense of elevation.

Mnemonic

Lofty = LOFT + Y. Imagine a tall loft in a barn; something lofty is as high as that space—and as high-minded as your loftiest goals.