Tallest

Tallest is the superlative form of tall, used to describe the greatest height among a group of objects or features. In everyday language, it refers to vertical extent, but the precise meaning depends on the context and measurement method. Different domains define and measure height differently, so the title of “tallest” can vary by category.

In geography, mountains are ranked by height above sea level or by other criteria such as prominence. In architecture and engineering, buildings and structures are measured from their base to their top. In botany, trees are measured from root base to tip. Each domain uses its own standards, which can affect which item is considered the tallest.

Notable examples commonly cited include Mount Everest, often described as the tallest mountain above sea level at about 8,848 meters, though exact figures have slight variations with different surveys. The tallest completed building and widely recognized tallest man-made structure is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, at 828 meters, since its completion in 2010. The tallest living tree confirmed to date is Hyperion, a coast redwood, at about 115–116 meters. These examples illustrate how the term “tallest” depends on what is being measured and how.

Because records can change with new constructions or discoveries and with evolving measurement techniques, the designation of “tallest” remains context dependent and subject to revision.