high point
- noun
- /haɪ pɔɪnt/
- The 18th century represented perhaps the high point of man's intellectual development.
- reached the high point
- marked the high point
- represented the high point
This was, I think, the high point of US Russian relations.
- This was, I think, the high point of US Russian relations.
- I, I think, you know, that's actually a high point of Massimo's books.
- And it was, again, it's a high point in my career.
- And here we get to perhaps one of the other really high points of what she's saying.
- So that will forever be one of the high points of my career.
- And now they have Google's gone through its high points and some, some valleys.
- So that was really nice as a high point for my my break here.
- I got these and there are a couple of really high points for me with these.
Examples
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What was the high point of the evening for you?
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This will be the high point of my day.
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And it was, again, it's a high point in my career.
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This is definitely one of the high points of my entire life.
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I know it was the high point of my life.
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This is definitely gonna go down in history as one of the high points of my life.
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This was, I think, the high point of US Russian relations.
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Networking with educators from across our country was one of the high points of the experience.
Academic text (2015) -
Similarly, Belgian artists turned for inspiration to the late Middle Ages, a high point in Flemish cultural history.
Academic text (1992) -
What was the high point of the concert for you?
Synonyms
The most exciting or memorable part of an event
The most intense point in a process, event, or story
The top level that something reaches
The highest point of success or power
The highest point something reaches, like water level or success
The highest point in the development of something
The best part of a trip that people remember most
The most interesting or memorable part of an event
The most exciting and memorable part of a party
The most exciting point in a story or event that leaves you breathless
Antonyms
How Enjoyable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the most enjoyable, exciting, or important part' is directly derivable from combining 'high' (of great degree/intensity) with 'point' (a specific moment or stage) to yield a 'peak moment.' This compositional pattern is common in English and mirrored in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would very likely infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
High point comes from the image of a hill or mountain with a very high top. Standing on that top, the words high and point make you think of the top, so the phrase means 'the most enjoyable, exciting, or important part'.