Höchststand

Höchststand is a German noun that denotes the highest value or level reached by a measurable quantity during a given period. It is used across fields to describe a peak, apex, or historic maximum. The word combines Höchst, meaning "highest", with Stand, meaning "level" or "state". In everyday language it is commonly contrasted with Tiefststand, the lowest level, and with terms like Rekordhoch or Allzeithoch when a new historical high is reached.

In finance and economics, Höchststand refers to the highest price, index level, or rate observed within a reporting window. Reporting agencies or media may announce a Höchststand to signal moments of market strength or overvaluation, and it is often tracked alongside previous Höchststände to illustrate momentum.

In the natural sciences and engineering, Höchststand is used for non-economic peaks: the Höchststand des Wasserstands (maximum water level) in hydrology during floods, Höchststand der Temperaturen (peak temperatures) in meteorology, or peak incidence in epidemiology. In reservoir management and civil engineering, it can denote the maximum storage or operating level of a dam, tank, or system before triggering safety protocols.

Etymologically, Höchststand is formed from Höchst (superlative of hoch) and Stand (level, position), and it is more specific than generic terms like Höhe or Wert. The concept is widely used in German-speaking contexts to report and compare peak values across disciplines.

See also: Allzeithoch, Rekordhoch, Tiefststand.