way too high

USAGE SUMMARY

"way too high" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is much higher than desired, expected, or reasonable. Example: The price of the new smartphone is way too high - I won't be buying it.

✓ Grammatically correct

Various contexts across news, personal opinions, and academic discussions.

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was way too high".

The New York Times - Sports

Their costs are still way too high.

The New York Times

"Then the fan is way too high".

The New York Times

That seems way too high.

The Washington Post

The FCC thinks that's way too high.

The Washington Post

Violence in Colombia is way too high.

The New York Times

Salaries, he said, are "way too high".

The New York Times - Sports

"The rents are way too high".

The New York Times

His number turned out to be way too high.

The New York Times

"My expectations were way too high," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I used to roll my skirt up way too high.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "way too high" to express strong disapproval or disagreement with a level, price, or expectation. It's most effective in informal and semi-formal contexts where a direct, impactful statement is desired.

Common error

While "way too high" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more professional alternatives like "excessively high" or "unacceptably high" to maintain a serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "way too high" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies an adjective or noun, intensifying the degree to which something exceeds a certain limit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly conveys that something is much higher than desired or reasonable. Examples in Ludwig include describing prices, expectations, or levels of violence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "way too high" is a versatile phrase used to express that something exceeds an acceptable or desired level. It functions as an adverbial phrase to intensify the meaning of an adjective. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically correct and widely used, though it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts. Alternatives like "excessively high" or "unacceptably high" can be used in formal settings. Common contexts of use include news, business, and academic discussions. Be mindful of the register and choose more formal options for professional or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unacceptably high

Focuses on the unacceptability of the height or level.

excessively elevated

Replaces "way too high" with a more formal and descriptive term focusing on elevation.

unreasonably excessive

Emphasizes the lack of reason behind the excessiveness.

beyond reasonable limits

Highlights that something has surpassed what is considered reasonable.

prohibitively expensive

Specifically relates to costs being too high to afford.

inordinately large

Focuses on the excessive size or amount.

over the top

An informal way to say something is excessive or exaggerated.

astronomically priced

Specifically emphasizes the exorbitant price of something.

steeply-priced

A more technical adjective to say that the price is very high.

out of bounds

Implies that something has exceeded acceptable limits or boundaries.

FAQs

How can I use "way too high" in a sentence?

You can use "way too high" to describe something exceeding acceptable limits, such as "The rent in this city is "way too high"" or "His expectations were "way too high"".

What are some alternatives to "way too high"?

Alternatives include "excessively high", "unacceptably high", or "prohibitively expensive" depending on the specific context.

Is "way too high" appropriate for formal writing?

While commonly used in conversation, "way too high" might be too informal for academic or professional writing. Consider alternatives like "excessively elevated" or "beyond reasonable limits" in such contexts.

What does "way too high" mean?

"Way too high" means that something is considerably above what is acceptable, desirable, or expected. It expresses a strong degree of excess.