4 N‑PLURAL Highlights in a person's hair are narrow lighter areas made by dyeing or sunlight. SYNONYMS highlight VERB 1
emphasize: We discussed pollution, emphasizing how nice a clean street or park looks.
stress: They also stress the need for improved employment opportunities.
accentuate: His shaven head accentuates his large round face.
flag up: I think there are more important issues and I just wanted to flag that up. NOUN 3
high point: The high point of this trip was a day at the races.
climax: Reaching the final was the climax of her career.
peak: His career was at its peak at the time of his death.
high|light|er /ha I la I tə r / (highlighters )
1 N‑VAR Highlighter is a pale-coloured cosmetic that someone puts above their eyes or on their cheeks to emphasize the shape of their face.
2 N‑COUNT A highlighter is a pen with brightly-coloured ink that is used to mark parts of a document.
high|ly ◆◆◇ /ha I li/
1 ADV [ADV adj] Highly is used before some adjectives to mean 'very'. □ Mr Singh was a highly successful salesman. □ …the highly controversial nuclear energy programme.
2 ADV [ADV -ed] You use highly to indicate that someone has an important position in an organization or set of people. □ …a highly placed government advisor.
3 ADV [ADV -ed] If someone is highly paid, they receive a large salary. □ He was the most highly paid member of staff.
4 ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] If you think highly of something or someone, you think they are very good indeed. □ …one of the most highly regarded chefs in the French capital. SYNONYMS highly ADV 1
extremely: My mobile phone is extremely useful.
immensely: Wind surfing can be strenuous but immensely exciting.
deeply: Our meetings and conversations left me deeply depressed.
tremendously: The business is tremendously profitable.
remarkably: The labour market has been remarkably successful in absorbing the extra graduates.
hi gh|ly stru ng also highly-strung in AM, use high-strung ADJ If someone is highly strung , they are very nervous and easily upset.
hi gh-mai ntenance also high maintenance ADJ If you describe something or someone as high-maintenance , you mean that they require a lot of attention, time, money, or effort. □ Small gardens can be high maintenance. □ She was a high-maintenance girl who needed lots of attention.
hi gh ma ss also High Mass N‑UNCOUNT High mass is a church service held in a Catholic church in which there is more ceremony than in an ordinary mass.
hi gh-mi nded ADJ If you say that someone is high-minded , you think they have strong moral principles. □ The President's hopes for the country were high-minded, but too vague.
High|ness /ha I n I s/ (Highnesses ) N‑COUNT Expressions such as 'Your Highness ' or 'His Highness ' are used to address or refer to a member of the royal family other than a king or queen. [POLITENESS ] □ That would be best, Your Highness.
hi gh noo n
1 N‑UNCOUNT High noon means the same as noon. [LITERARY ]
2 N‑UNCOUNT Journalists sometimes use high noon to refer to a crisis or event which is likely to decide finally what is going to happen in a conflict or situation. □ [+ for ] He insisted that a defeat yesterday would not have been high noon for his leadership.
hi gh-o ctane ADJ [ADJ n] You can use high-octane to emphasize that something is very exciting or intense. [JOURNALISM ] □ …a high-octane performance.
hi gh-perfo rmance ADJ [ADJ n] A high-performance car or other product goes very fast or does a lot. □ …the thrill of taking an expensive high-performance car to its limits.
hi gh-pi tched ADJ A high-pitched sound is shrill and high in pitch. □ A woman squealed in a high-pitched voice.
hi gh point (high points ) N‑COUNT The high point of an event or period of time is the most exciting or enjoyable part of it. □ [+ of/in ] The high point of this trip was a day at the races in Balgriffin.
hi gh-po wered
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A high-powered machine or piece of equipment is very powerful and efficient. □ …high powered lasers.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who is high-powered or has a high-powered job has a very important and responsible job which requires a lot of ability. □ I had a very high-powered senior job in publishing.
hi gh prie st (high priests ) N‑COUNT If you call a man the high priest of a particular thing, you are saying in a slightly mocking way that he is considered by people to be expert in that thing. □ [+ of ] …the high priest of cheap periodical fiction.
hi gh prie st|ess (high priestesses ) N‑COUNT If you call a woman the high priestess of a particular thing, you are saying in a slightly mocking way that she is considered by people to be expert in that thing. □ [+ of ] …the American high priestess of wit.
hi gh-pro file ADJ [usu ADJ n] A high-profile person or a high-profile event attracts a lot of attention or publicity. □ …the high-profile reception being given to the president.