loftyloft‧y /ˈlɒfti $ ˈlɒː/ adjective 
He stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, from whose lofty heights he could see across New York.► see thesaurus at high2lofty ideas, beliefs, attitudes etc show high standards or high moral qualities – use this to show approval: lofty ideals of equality and social justice He had set himself the lofty goal of reaching the world’s top five.3seeming to think you are better than other people – used to show disapproval: She has such a lofty manner.—loftily adverb—loftiness noun [uncountable]
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Burton always had a calm, lofty perspective on his work as an actor.
- But other destinations ride with the tide, piling on entertainment and sometimes loftier diversions.
- He glanced towards Rain but she took the lofty view that bribing security men was not her concern.
- In fact, Jack Welch says,-Globalization is no longer a lofty ideal.
- In less lofty circles, pay rises do not compensate for changes in other conditions at work.
- That lofty notion spread like a virulent germ into every law school in the nation.
- The vaulting is ribbed throughout, lofty and well-proportioned.
- With so lofty a title one might expect a similarly lofty agenda and goals.
THESAURUSbuildings/mountains etc
measuring a long distance from the bottom to the top – used about mountains, walls, and buildings: · the highest mountain in the world· The castle was surrounded by high walls.· a high cliff· The council told the architects the tower was too high.
high – used about people, trees, plants, and buildings. Tall is used especially about things that are high and narrow: · tall marble columns· A cat was hiding in the tall grass.· a tall modern building
especially written very impressive because of being very big and tall – used about mountains, buildings, trees, and animals: · the majestic mountains of the Himalayas· The abbey is noted for its majestic arches, fine doorways and elegant windows.· The cathedral looked majestic in the evening light.
[only before noun] especially written used about a building or mountain that looks extremely tall and impressive: · a soaring skyscraper· the soaring towers of the palace
[only before noun] especially written extremely high, in a way that seems impressive but also often rather frightening: · The sky was shut out by the towering walls of the prison.· towering trees
[usually before noun] literary very high and impressive – used in literature: · the lofty peaks in the far distance
[usually before noun] a high-rise building is a tall modern building with a lot of floors containing apartments or offices: · a high-rise apartment block· He works in a high-rise office in New York.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, from whose lofty heights he could see across New York.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1 literary lofty mountains, buildings etc are very high and impressive: He stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, from whose lofty heights he could see across New York.· Has Mr Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, set himself equally lofty goals?· The new unit will start business today with the lofty goal of $ 100 million in sales within five years.· To that lofty goal, it can safely be assumed, Stormy Eaton would say amen.
· From their lofty height of existence, it was as if they could not even see him.
· Medieval kingship was an extraordinary mixture of harsh reality and lofty ideals.· In fact, Jack Welch says,-Globalization is no longer a lofty ideal.· All those lofty ideals and principled declarations had led to unprecedented carnage in the trenches.· And one does expect more purity from people who invoke lofty ideals.
He stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, from whose lofty heights he could see across New York.► see thesaurus at high2lofty ideas, beliefs, attitudes etc show high standards or high moral qualities – use this to show approval: lofty ideals of equality and social justice He had set himself the lofty goal of reaching the world’s top five.3seeming to think you are better than other people – used to show disapproval: She has such a lofty manner.—loftily adverb—loftiness noun [uncountable]