Definition

Noun: 1. The state or quality of being high; loftiness: This refers to a great vertical extent or elevation, or a high degree of intensity, amount, or level. 2. A title of honor used when addressing or referring to a member of a royal family (other than a king, queen, emperor, or empress): It is a formal style, typically preceded by a possessive pronoun (Your, His, Her) and often by the word "Royal."

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Quality of being high):
  • The highness of the mountain peak made it difficult to climb.
  • The highness of his standards is admirable.
  • They were concerned about the highness of the project's cost.
• Noun (Royal Title):
  • "Your Highness, the ambassador has arrived," the servant said.
  • His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will attend the ceremony.
  • The letter was addressed to Her Highness Princess Maria.

Advanced Usage

• "Your Highness": The direct form of address used when speaking to a prince, princess, or other royal personage entitled to the style.
  • "May I present the report, Your Highness?"
• "His/Her Highness": The third-person form used when referring to such a royal person.
  • His Highness has expressed his approval.
• "His/Her Royal Highness (HRH)": A more specific and formal version of the title, often used for the children and grandchildren of a monarch.
  • Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.

Variants and Related Words

• High (adj.): Having a great vertical extent; of great intensity, degree, or amount.
  • A high wall; high prices; high praise.
• Height (n.): The measurement of someone or something from base to top; the most intense part or period of something.
  • The height of the building; the height of summer.

Synonyms

• For the quality of being high: Elevation, loftiness, tallness, altitude.
• For the royal title: Majesty (used for a king, queen, emperor, or empress), Grace (an older style for a duke or duchess), Excellency (used for ambassadors and some high officials).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• The height of [something]: The utmost degree or the most extreme example of something. (Note: This uses "height," a related word, not "highness").
  • His behavior was the height of rudeness.

Noun

1. a high degree (of amount or force etc.)
   • responsible for the highness of the rates
2. the quality of being high or lofty
3. (Your Highness or His Highness or Her Highness) title used to address a royal person