seems high

USAGE SUMMARY

"seems high" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to suggest that something is expensive, or perhaps too expensive in a given situation. For example, "The price the store is asking for this item seems high. I'll wait to see if they drop it before I buy it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Morale now seems high.

The New York Times

Even that figure seems high.

The New York Times

That number seems... high.

The Washington Post

Morale at the camps seems high.

The New York Times

But now the water seems high all the time.

The Washington Post

Previously, Home Office officials said £1 an hour "seems high".

The Guardian

(Box of 48 for $24, which also seems high).

The New York Times - Arts

"At first glance, it seems high," Ms. Fremar said.

The New York Times

That seems high given the rumbling on the horizon.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Even Terminal 4's religion seems high-end.

The New York Times - Travel

Seems high/low?

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seems high" to express concern about a number or statistic, provide context or comparison to justify your assessment. For example: "The projected cost seems high compared to previous estimates."

Common error

Avoid stating that something "seems high" without providing a basis for comparison or reasoning. Back up your opinion with data or context to make your assessment more credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems high" functions as a subjective assessment, indicating that a particular value, quantity, or price is perceived as greater than expected or acceptable. As shown by Ludwig, it often introduces a note of skepticism or requires further examination.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seems high" is a versatile expression used to convey that something is perceived as greater than expected. As validated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently employed across varied contexts, from news reports to academic papers. Its primary function is to express a subjective assessment, often introducing a note of skepticism or prompting further investigation. While its register is neutral, usage guidance emphasizes the importance of providing context or comparison to support such assertions. Remember to use alternative phrases like "appears excessive" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems excessive

Direct synonym, emphasizing the degree to which something surpasses a reasonable level.

seems inflated

Suggests something has been artificially increased beyond its true value.

appears excessive

Emphasizes the degree to which something surpasses a reasonable level.

looks excessive

Emphasizes the degree to which something surpasses a reasonable level, using 'looks' instead of 'seems'.

appears inflated

Suggests something has been artificially increased beyond its true value.

appears exorbitant

Suggests an extremely high and often unfair price or amount.

seems overpriced

Specifically refers to a price that is considered too high for the value received.

looks steep

Implies a cost or amount is significantly higher than one would anticipate.

appears costly

A more general term indicating something has a high price or involves significant expense.

appears unreasonable

Indicates that something is not justified or fair given the circumstances.

FAQs

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

You can use "seems high" to express that a number, price, or level is unexpectedly or questionably large. For example, "The quoted price for the repair "seems high" compared to other estimates I've received."

What's a less direct way to say "seems high"?

Instead of saying something "seems high", you could say it "appears excessive", "seems overpriced", or "looks steep", depending on the context.

Is it always negative to say something "seems high"?

While often used to express concern or doubt about something being too large, "seems high" can also simply indicate surprise or require further investigation. The tone depends on the context.

What's the difference between "seems high" and "is high"?

"Seems high" suggests an initial impression or subjective assessment, while "is high" is a more definitive statement of fact. Using "seems" indicates less certainty.