Lofty
ˈlɔːfti
Definitions
2 meaningsOf imposing height; rising to a great height.
ˈlɔːfti
Of great height; towering.
The castle's lofty towers dominated the landscape.
💡 Simply: Imagine a really, really tall building or a mountain. That's lofty! It's so high up that it feels impressive, like when you look up at the sky and feel small.
👶 For kids: Something lofty is very tall, like a giant's house or a really tall tree.
More Examples
The lofty peaks of the Himalayas are breathtaking.
The bird built its nest in a lofty tree.
How It's Used
"The cathedral had a lofty ceiling."
"Lofty mountains rose in the distance."
Having or showing the proud and superior feeling of being better than other people.
ˈlɔːfti
Of a superior or noble kind; elevated in character.
He held himself with a lofty air.
💡 Simply: Sometimes 'lofty' means someone has really high standards, like they think they're better than others or they have amazing goals. It's like they're aiming for the stars!
👶 For kids: If someone has lofty goals, it means they want to do something really important and good.
More Examples
The company had lofty goals for the future.
She had a lofty view of her own abilities.
How It's Used
"She had lofty ideals about justice and fairness."
"His lofty ambitions drove him to succeed."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
lofty ideals
High-minded or noble goals or principles.
"The politician spoke of lofty ideals, but his actions often contradicted them."
lofty goals
Ambitious objectives or targets.
"The company set lofty goals for its sales targets this year."
From Old Norse *lóptr* meaning "air" or "sky", influenced by the sense of elevation and grandeur.
The word 'lofty' has been used since the 13th century to describe physical elevation, but the figurative sense of superior or noble character became common later.
Memory tip
Think of a tall building reaching up to the loft.