These words refer to something of a relatively sizeable vertical dimension or to something found or placed at considerable altitude. High functions in both these ways: high buildings; a little shack high up in the hills. Tall , by contrast, is restricted to the first situation: a tall man; a child tall for her age. Because of this, tall is preferred over high in more formal contexts to indicate vertical height: tall buildings. But the informal use of high in this sense remains secure: climb the highest mountain. High , in general, does tend to suggest altitude, tall relative dimension. High , furthermore, is used metaphorically to refer to mobility or intensity: high moral purpose; high spirits. Tall has fewer metaphorical uses, one of them being in reference to masculinity: tall in the saddle.

Elevated , considerably more formal than the foregoing, is like high in referring both to vertical dimension and placement at an altitude: an office building elevated a dozen floors above its neighbours; an elevated railway. The word has a special use to indicate anything that has been raised above something else: an elevated walkway for pedestrians; the elevated tiers of the rock garden that ran halfway up the slope. Metaphorically, the word emphasizes nobility, dignity or profundity: an elevated discussion of final causes. But the word can suggest pretentious pomposity or inflated self-esteem: considering herself too elevated to eat with the common horde in the dining room; elevated diction.

Towering , by contrast, is restricted like tall , to refer to things of a considerable height, although it is an intensification of tall , almost to the point of hyperbole: the towering giant of a man who was walking towards us; the towering karri trees of Western Australia; towering skyscrapers. Metaphorically, the word is vaguer than high or elevated , making a hyperbolic plea that something be regarded as greatly important or valuable: our towering need for solutions to present-day problems: a towering figure in world literature.

Lofty may refer, like high, either to stature or placement at an altitude: the lofty oak; the lofty mountain pass. Both these concrete uses may seem less than natural now, however, having a ring that would sound too pretentious in many situations. The word, like elevated, once was used metaphorically to indicate nobility and profundity, but this use, too, could be thought dangerously affected: the lofty efforts of our city fathers. The word does have a specific use to suggest a sense of superiority that causes someone to withdraw and act in a cold or remote manner; the word is, in this case, disapproving or pejorative in tone: the lofty arrogance of the white planters; a lofty indifference of some writers to the pressing problems of their times.