Cool MateHigh vs Tremendous
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
High
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Tremendous
Top 1,000 (very common)C1adjective
| High | Tremendous | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/haɪ/","/ˈhaɪə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/haɪ/","/ˈhaɪər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/trəˈmendəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/trəˈmendəs/"]/ |
| Meaning | At a great distance from the ground or a high level. | Very great in amount, size, or intensity. |
| Example | The mountain is very high. | a tremendous explosion |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | high price, high risk, high quality, high expectations, high spirits | tremendous success, tremendous impact, tremendous effort, tremendous amount, tremendous talent |
| Antonyms | low, small, short | tiny, insignificant, small |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'tall' - use 'tall' for people., Using it to mean 'too much' in informal contexts., Saying 'high from' instead of 'high on' when describing feelings. | Confused with 'tremendously', which is an adverb., Used inappropriately for small amounts, like 'a tremendous cup of coffee'., Mixing it up with 'tremble', which means to shake. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe physical height or abstract levels such as prices or emotions. Avoid using 'high' to describe age; 'old' is preferred. | Used to express something very large or impressive. Avoid using it in overly formal writing or when a simpler word would suffice. |
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Frequently asked questions: High vs Tremendous
What's the difference between High and Tremendous?
High: At a great distance from the ground or a high level. Tremendous: Very great in amount, size, or intensity.
Which is more advanced: High and Tremendous?
Tremendous is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are High and Tremendous the same CEFR level?
High: A1, Tremendous: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are High and Tremendous?
High: adjective, Tremendous: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
High: The mountain is very high. Tremendous: a tremendous explosion
Can I use High and Tremendous interchangeably?
Not always. High and Tremendous are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.