awfully high

USAGE SUMMARY

'awfully high' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very or extremely high, e.g. "The temperature outside is awfully high today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

They looked awfully high up.

Independent

It was awfully high, but awfully lonesome.

The New Yorker

That number, on which everything depends, looks awfully high.

The Economist

But its $12.2 million valuation on the property looks awfully high to some land experts.

The New York Times

Yet withdrawing, the cost of that seems awfully high as well.

The New York Times

They may have to reach awfully high for the one their son reaches next.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

It's a tutorial, but with an awfully high-class soundtrack.

The New York Times

There are ambitions to become a world class city but those ambitions look awfully like high rise after high rise and a race to the skies.

The Guardian

I only know this from when I saw the dailies, they said apparently I was in Baltimore filming and they said that the guys look awfully old for high school.

The Guardian - Film

That can get awfully steep at the high end (like $1,000 for 1,000 gigabytes) — high enough to make "pay $15 a month for unlimited music" sites like Rhapsody look awfully appealing.

The New York Times - Tech

You could always give the digital-camera buff in your life a more capacious memory card, replacement photo-printer ink cartridges or a package of glossy photo paper for printing, but that would be awfully utilitarian -- the high-tech equivalent of giving your parents an econo-pack of paper towels for Christmas.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "awfully high", ensure the context is clear. While "awfully" can intensify the adjective, be mindful of potential ambiguity, especially in formal writing, where a more direct intensifier might be preferable.

Common error

Avoid using "awfully high" when you need a precise measurement. "Awfully" is subjective; for quantifiable data, use specific numbers instead of relying on a vague intensifier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully high" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "awfully" modifies and intensifies the adjective "high". This intensifier indicates a significant degree or level. Ludwig shows that the phrase is widely used to describe costs, prices, or physical heights.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

9%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "awfully high" is a common phrase used to express that something is exceedingly high, whether it's a price, a physical altitude, or another measurable quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news and media, making it suitable for general use but potentially too informal for academic or highly formal contexts. Consider alternatives like "exceptionally high" or "extremely high" for more formal writing. When using "awfully high", clarity is key; ensure the context makes it clear what is being described as high.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally high

Replaces "awfully" with a more formal intensifier, maintaining a similar degree of intensity.

extremely high

Uses a more common and direct synonym for "awfully", conveying a high degree or level.

incredibly high

Emphasizes the height is hard to believe, adding a sense of surprise.

remarkably high

Highlights that the height is noteworthy or deserving of attention.

prohibitively high

Implies the height is so great it prevents something from happening or being affordable.

unacceptably high

Conveys the height is beyond what is considered tolerable or appropriate.

alarmingly high

Suggests the height is a cause for concern or worry.

surprisingly high

Indicates the height was unexpected or not anticipated.

overly high

Implies the height is excessive or more than necessary.

noticeably high

Highlights that the high level is easily observed and apparent.

FAQs

How can I use "awfully high" in a sentence?

You can use "awfully high" to describe something that is extremely high, such as, "The cost of living in the city is "awfully high"" or "The mountain looked "awfully high" from below".

What's a more formal alternative to "awfully high"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "exceptionally high" or "extremely high" instead of "awfully high". These options maintain the intensity without the slight informality of "awfully".

Is "awfully high" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "awfully high" might be perceived as slightly informal for academic writing. Alternatives like "remarkably high" or "significantly high" may be more suitable.

What does "awfully" mean in the context of "awfully high"?

In this context, "awfully" functions as an adverb intensifying the adjective "high". It means "very" or "extremely", emphasizing the degree to which something is high.