highest

Highest is the superlative form of the adjective high. It denotes the greatest height, amount, degree, or rank within a defined set. It can modify a noun directly, as in the highest building, or function predicatively, as in this road is the highest in the city. In data contexts, highest often refers to the maximum value in a dataset or the peak point of a spectrum or trend.

Etymology and form: Highest comes from Old English with the base word high and the suffix -est used to form the superlative. For one-syllable adjectives like high, the standard inflection is high, higher, highest. In historical or more formal usage, phrases such as most high appeared in some contexts, but highest is the common modern form.

Usage and examples: In geography, the highest mountain or highest point denotes the summit with the greatest elevation; Mount Everest is widely cited as the highest mountain above sea level. In science and statistics, the highest value indicates the maximum observed or permitted amount, such as the highest temperature recorded or the highest score attained. The term also appears in religious or literary contexts, such as “the Highest” referring to a supreme being.

See also: high, higher, maximum, apex, peak, summit, elevation, altitude.