🚀 Very successful 🎈 At great height

highflying

1 6.7

A person, company, or plan that is very successful and ambitious

adjective
/haɪˈflaɪɪŋ/

: ambicioso

She was once a highflying executive in a major corporation.

Examples

Many highflying startups struggled during the economic downturn.
The highflying entrepreneur launched a new startup last year.
His highflying ambitions were admired by some and resented by others.
Her highflying ambitions led her to work in Silicon Valley.
The highflying entrepreneur launched several successful startups before turning 30.
Her highflying ambitions led her to pursue a prestigious MBA program.
He became known for his highflying lifestyle, traveling the world and dining in luxury.

Synonyms

soaring

vshighflying

10 3.9

Very high and standing above nearby buildings or land

focuses on success or showy achievement rather than physical height

vaultingly ambitious

vshighflying

Literature

1 8.7

Wanting very great success that is unlikely to happen

mixes high achievement and showy style rather than only extreme drive

Antonyms

mediocre

94 4.8

Only average in quality and not very good

unsuccessful

75 2.9

Not getting the result someone wants

How Successful

highflying

1 6.7

outstanding

241 3.4

accomplished

83 3.8

successful

∞ 1.6

promising

205 3.1

Surface Forms

highflying positive

Morphology

highflying = high + fly (semi-transparent) = high + fly + ing

The components are identifiable, but the sense 'very successful or ambitious' is a metaphorical extension rather than a literal description.

Etymology

Highflying also uses the same picture of rising: high ('up') plus flying from fly ('to rise' or 'go up'). So a highflying person or company is one that aims very high or reaches great success.