Word forms: comparative loftier, superlative loftiest
1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A lofty ideal or ambition is noble, important, and admirable.
It was a bank that started out with grand ideas and lofty ideals.
Amid the chaos, he had lofty aims.
Synonyms: noble, grand, distinguished, superior More Synonyms of lofty
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A lofty building or room is very high.
[formal]
...a light, lofty apartment in the suburbs of Salzburg.
Victorian houses can seem cold with their lofty ceilings and rambling rooms.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you say that someone behaves in a lofty way, you are critical of them for behaving in a proud and rather unpleasant way, as if they think they are very important.
[disapproval]
...the lofty disdain he often expresses for his profession.
...lofty contempt.
Synonyms: haughty, lordly, proud, arrogant More Synonyms of lofty
loftily (lɒftɪli, US lɔːf-)graded adverb [usually ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
'We supply financial information to selected clients,' Crook said loftily.
...loftily indifferent to the world outside.
More Synonyms of lofty
lofty in British English
(ˈlɒftɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: loftier or loftiest
1.
of majestic or imposing height
2.
exalted or noble in character or nature
3.
haughty or supercilious
4.
elevated, eminent, or superior
Derived forms
loftily (ˈloftily)
adverb
loftiness (ˈloftiness)
noun
lofty in American English
(ˈlɔfti; ˈlɑfti)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈloftier or ˈloftiest
1.
very high
a lofty peak in the Alps
2.
elevated; noble; sublime
3.
haughty; arrogant
Derived forms
loftily (ˈloftily)
adverb
loftiness (ˈloftiness)
noun
Examples of 'lofty' in a sentence
lofty
We move toward a lofty ideal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was a lofty ideal, but it has come to fruition sooner than many expected.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Other blue sky thinkers in Palo Alto have similarly lofty ambitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is not the only one with such lofty ambitions.
Christianity Today (2000)
Failure to reach lofty heights can be forgiven.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The space race is a high and lofty goal worthy of pursuit.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Not for them the lofty ideals of cultural exchange and global understanding.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Further glazed doors provide a view through to a grand and lofty staircase hall.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But this can be a graveyard for visitors with lofty ambition.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And its current trustees want to ensure that future residents live up to its lofty ideals.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Those are the lofty, noble reasons.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
To those with ideas that the area is deprived and inaccessible, these might seem lofty ambitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's a lofty ambition but much stranger things have happened at this magical time of year.
The Sun (2011)
For the moment, lofty ideals make for good business.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
These are games Portsmouth should be winning but it was a display to keep their lofty ambitions firmly in check.
The Sun (2008)
A lofty ambition, a rarefied crowd.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Here in Edinburgh they are seething with jealousy, but adopting a veneer of lofty disdain.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
How absurd such horror, such squalor, seemed from this lofty height!
Baxter, Stephen Anti-Ice (1993)
So, too, will the grand manner and lofty style.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
For the time being, Godolphin can only dream of such lofty heights.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Let us hope Spurs' lofty ambitions are not about to disappear in a similarly disgruntled fashion.
The Sun (2011)
I think he sees his cause with the eyes of love, and such lofty ambitions are mostly wishful thinking.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
From the lofty heights of French philosophy, to be engaged in politics is more important than to be right.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
DESPITE its lofty ideals, Davos is a phenomenal money maker.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
These lofty ideals quickly collapsed in the face of the economic needs of clubs, presidents, players and the demands of fans for success.
John Foot Calcio: A History of Italian Football (2006)
France's top chefs used to dismiss the fast-food industry as an pariah in the world of gastronomy and an insult to their lofty ideals.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
lofty
British English: lofty ADJECTIVE
A lofty ideal or ambition is noble, important, and admirable.
It was a bank that started out with grand ideas and lofty ideals.
American English: lofty
Brazilian Portuguese: altivo
Chinese: 崇高的
European Spanish: noble
French: noble
German: hochfliegend
Italian: nobile
Japanese: 高尚な
Korean: 고매한
European Portuguese: altivo
Latin American Spanish: noble
1 (adjective)
Definition
morally admirable
Amid the chaos, he had lofty aims.
Synonyms
noble
She was described by contemporaries as possessing a noble bearing and excellent manners.
grand
She's too busy with her grand new friends to bother with us now.
distinguished
a distinguished academic family
superior
Finch gave a superior smile.
imposing
An imposing figure loomed over me.
renowned
The area is renowned for its churches.
elevated
the magazine's elevated tone
majestic
a majestic country home
dignified
He conducted the interview in a dignified and professional manner.
stately
Instead of moving at his usual stately pace, he was almost running.
sublime
the sublime beauty of nature
illustrious
the most illustrious scientists of the century
exalted
I don't think of poetry as an exalted calling, as some poets do.
Opposites
mean
,
low
,
humble
,
degraded
,
lowly
,
debased
2 (adjective)
Definition
of majestic or imposing height
a light, lofty apartment
Synonyms
high
A house with a high wall around it.
raised
towering
towering cliffs of black granite
tall
a lawn of tall, waving grass
soaring
elevated
an elevated platform on the stage
sky-high
Opposites
low
,
short
,
dwarfed
,
stunted
3 (adjective)
Definition
unpleasantly superior
the lofty disdain he often expresses for his profession
Synonyms
haughty
She spoke in a haughty tone.
lordly
their lordly indifference to patients
proud
She has a reputation for being proud and arrogant.
arrogant
an air of arrogant indifference
patronizing
a patronizing attitude to the homeless
condescending
I'm fed up with your condescending attitude.
snooty (informal)
snooty intellectuals
disdainful
He gave us a disdainful glance and moved on.
supercilious
His manner is supercilious and arrogant.
high and mighty (informal)
I think you're a bit too high and mighty yourself.
toffee-nosed (slang, mainly British)
Opposites
warm
,
friendly
,
modest
,
unassuming
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arrogant
Definition
having an exaggerated opinion of one's own importance or ability
an air of arrogant indifference
Synonyms
conceited,
lordly,
assuming,
proud,
swaggering,
pompous,
pretentious,
stuck up (informal),
cocky,
contemptuous,
blustering,
imperious,
overbearing,
haughty,
scornful,
puffed up,
egotistical,
disdainful,
self-important,
presumptuous,
high-handed,
insolent,
supercilious,
high and mighty (informal),
overweening,
immodest,
swollen-headed,
bigheaded (informal),
uppish (British, informal),
too big for your boots or breeches
in the sense of condescending
I'm fed up with your condescending attitude.
Synonyms
patronizing,
lordly,
superior,
lofty,
snooty (informal),
snobbish,
disdainful,
supercilious,
toffee-nosed (slang, British),
on your high horse (informal)
in the sense of dignified
Definition
calm, impressive, and worthy of respect
He conducted the interview in a dignified and professional manner.
Synonyms
distinguished,
august,
reserved,
imposing,
formal,
grave,
noble,
upright,
stately,
solemn,
lofty,
exalted,
decorous
Synonyms of 'lofty'
lofty
Explore 'lofty' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disdainful
He gave us a disdainful glance and moved on.
Synonyms
contemptuous,
scornful,
arrogant,
superior,
proud,
sneering,
aloof,
haughty,
derisive,
supercilious,
high and mighty (informal),
hoity-toity (informal),
turning up your nose (at),
on your high horse (informal),
looking down your nose (at)
in the sense of distinguished
Definition
dignified in appearance or behaviour
a distinguished academic family
Synonyms
eminent,
great,
important,
noted,
famous,
celebrated,
well-known,
prominent,
esteemed,
acclaimed,
notable,
renowned,
prestigious,
elevated,
big-time (informal),
famed,
conspicuous,
illustrious,
major league (informal)
in the sense of elevated
Definition
(of ideas or pursuits) on a high intellectual or moral level
the magazine's elevated tone
Synonyms
high-minded,
high,
fine,
grand,
noble,
inflated,
dignified,
sublime,
lofty,
high-flown,
pompous,
exalted,
bombastic
in the sense of elevated
Definition
(of land or part of a building) higher than the surrounding area
an elevated platform on the stage
Synonyms
raised,
high,
lifted up,
upraised
in the sense of exalted
I don't think of poetry as an exalted calling, as some poets do.
Synonyms
noble,
ideal,
superior,
elevated,
intellectual,
uplifting,
sublime,
lofty,
high-minded
in the sense of grand
Definition
dignified or haughty
She's too busy with her grand new friends to bother with us now.
Synonyms
superior,
great,
lordly,
noble,
elevated,
eminent,
majestic,
dignified,
stately,
lofty,
august,
illustrious,
pompous,
pretentious,
haughty
in the sense of high and mighty
Definition
too confident and full of self-importance
I think you're a bit too high and mighty yourself.
Synonyms
self-important,
superior,
arrogant,
stuck-up (informal),
conceited,
imperious,
overbearing,
haughty,
snobbish,
disdainful
in the sense of illustrious
Definition
famous and distinguished
the most illustrious scientists of the century
Synonyms
famous,
great,
noted,
celebrated,
signal,
brilliant,
remarkable,
distinguished,
prominent,
glorious,
noble,
splendid,
notable,
renowned,
eminent,
famed,
exalted
in the sense of imposing
Definition
grand or impressive
An imposing figure loomed over me.
Synonyms
impressive,
striking,
grand,
august,
powerful,
effective,
commanding,
awesome,
majestic,
dignified,
stately,
forcible
in the sense of lordly
Definition
haughty or arrogant
their lordly indifference to patients
Synonyms
proud,
arrogant,
lofty,
stuck-up (informal),
patronizing,
dictatorial,
condescending,
imperious,
domineering,
overbearing,
haughty,
tyrannical,
despotic,
disdainful,
high-handed,
supercilious,
high and mighty (informal),
toffee-nosed (slang, British),
hoity-toity (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of majestic
Definition
beautiful, dignified, and impressive
a majestic country home
Synonyms
grand,
magnificent,
impressive,
superb,
kingly,
royal,
august,
princely,
imposing,
imperial,
noble,
splendid,
elevated,
awesome,
dignified,
regal,
stately,
monumental,
sublime,
lofty,
pompous,
grandiose,
exalted,
splendiferous (facetious)
in the sense of patronizing
a patronizing attitude to the homeless
Synonyms
condescending,
superior,
stooping,
lofty,
gracious,
contemptuous,
haughty,
snobbish,
disdainful,
supercilious,
toffee-nosed (slang, British)
in the sense of proud
Definition
haughty or arrogant
She has a reputation for being proud and arrogant.
Synonyms
conceited,
vain,
arrogant,
stuck-up (informal),
lordly,
imperious,
narcissistic,
overbearing,
snooty (informal),
haughty,
snobbish,
egotistical,
self-satisfied,
disdainful,
self-important,
presumptuous,
boastful,
supercilious,
high and mighty (informal),
toffee-nosed (slang, British),
orgulous (archaic),
too big for your boots or breeches
in the sense of renowned
Definition
famous
The area is renowned for its churches.
Synonyms
famous,
noted,
celebrated,
well-known,
distinguished,
esteemed,
acclaimed,
notable,
eminent,
famed,
illustrious
in the sense of snooty
Definition
behaving as if superior to other people
snooty intellectuals
Synonyms
snobbish,
superior,
aloof,
pretentious,
stuck-up (informal),
condescending,
proud,
haughty,
disdainful,
snotty,
uppity (informal),
supercilious,
high and mighty (informal),
toffee-nosed (slang, British),
hoity-toity (informal),
high-hat (informal, US),
uppish (British, informal),
toplofty (informal)
in the sense of stately
Definition
having a dignified, impressive, and graceful appearance or manner
Instead of moving at his usual stately pace, he was almost running.