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Glite Dictionary
high profile

high profile

130 3.6
A job or position that gets a lot of public attention
  • noun
  • /haɪ ˈproʊfaɪl/
translation icon : alta visibilidad
  • Can you speak to some recent high profile divorces?
  • a high-profile case
  • a high-profile campaign
  • a high-profile event

Examples

  • And so that's what I try to do when we have these high profile cases in the media.

  • It's from Science magazine, which is a very high profile scientific journal.

  • Now, some cases are just so high profile that that might be almost impossible.

  • When the most high profile person of Ireland is in the building.

  • Not because of anything so new, but mostly because of her high profile in the press.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Really the most high profile prisoner in the whole country.

  • Being part of a high profile trial is exhausting.

  • I've represented from a trial science perspective, a lot of really high profile individuals and entities.

  • More breaking news this hour, as the city is rocked by a second high-profile murder in as many nights.

    The Batman (2022)

  • Being part of a high profile trial is exhausting.

Synonyms

spotlight
vshigh profile
208 3.5

Public attention focused on a person or issue

is a status or situation that draws attention rather than the attention itself
in the spotlight
vshigh profile
45 3.7

A person or thing that gets attention from many people

is about holding status that draws ongoing publicity rather than brief attention
limelight
vshigh profile
40 4.5

Public attention when someone is the center of interest

is a position that attracts public attention rather than the attention itself
in the public eye
vshigh profile
36 3.7

Seen and talked about by many people

is about having a role that attracts publicity rather than general fame
in the limelight
vshigh profile
12 5.5

Getting a lot of public attention

is about a role or status that attracts public attention over time
cause célèbre
vshigh profile
5 9.3

An event like a trial that gets a lot of public attention because people strongly disagree about it

is about a position or situation attracting attention rather than a single controversial event
significant public interest
vshigh profile
3.5

A large amount of attention and worry from many people about an event or issue

is about holding a role that draws attention rather than describing its amount

Antonyms

low profile
55 4.4

A way of behaving to avoid attention or public notice

How Public

high profile
130 3.6
well-known
253 1.0
visible
398 1.0
low profile
55 4.4
private
∞ 2.2
secret
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

high profile singular
high profiles plural

Morphology

high + profile

The meaning 'attracts a great deal of public attention' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'high' (elevated, great) with 'profile' (level of public attention or prominence). This adjective+noun composition is a common and cross-linguistically regular pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

High profile comes from the simple image of something put high so many people can see its profile or outline, like a poster on a tall wall. So, if a person or job is high profile, it means it is very visible and 'attracts a great deal of public attention'.