on high

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on high

/ɒn ˈhaɪ/ UK
/ɑn ˈhaɪ/ US

Rhymes with -aɪ

Where it comes from

From Middle English on heigh, on an heigh (“in or into heaven; up to heaven”) [and other forms], from Old English on hēagum (“on high”); hēagum is an inflected form of hēah (“high; tall”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kewk- (“height; to elevate”). The English word is equivalent to on + high. Compare Dutch omhoog (“upwards, on high”), West Frisian omheech (“upwards”).

phrase

To a high position; or up in, or to, the sky; above. So thick a haze o’erspreads the sky, / They cannot see the Sun on high; / The wind hath blown a gale all day, / At evening it hath died away.
Similar: ahigh, aloft
literary, specifically Up in, or to, Heaven. Who is like vnto the Lord our God: who dwelleth on high: […]
humorous In authority, influence, or power. According to those on high, taxes need to increase again.

Translations

Every language

prep_phrase to a high position; or up in, or to, the sky — see also above, aloft

Русский	свысока́ svysoká

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Cite this

MLA

"on high." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/on%20high. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

APA

on high. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/on%20high

Chicago

"on high." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/on%20high.

BibTeX

@misc{on_high_2026,
  title = {on high},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/on%20high},
  urldate = {2026-11-07}
}