IELTS synonyms

Synonyms for “highest” in IELTS

12 alternatives to “highest”, each with its part of speech, how it differs in meaning or register, an example sentence and a warning where a blind swap changes what you say. Every Task 1 overview needs the highest and lowest points, so 'the highest' and 'peaked' appear again and again. These alternatives show you know the difference between a peak, a final high, the largest category and one line overtaking another.

Example

peak (verb / noun)

The highest point before a fall.

Sales peaked at 4.2 million in 2015 before declining.

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  • 12 alternatives
  • Writing Task 1
  • Meaning, register and example
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Written by Fizza Butool Zaidi and Ali Zaidi

12 alternatives

Other words for “highest”

  1. 1.peak

    verb / nounWriting

    The highest point before a fall.

    Sales peaked at 4.2 million in 2015 before declining.

    Don't swap blindly: A peak is followed by a fall. If the figure is still rising at the end, write 'reached its highest level in 2020'.

  2. 2.reach a high of

    verb phraseWriting

    Neutral way to give the top figure.

    Temperatures reached a high of 34°C in July.

  3. 3.the largest / the greatest

    adjectiveWriting and Speaking

    For the biggest amount or share among categories.

    Housing accounted for the largest share of spending.

  4. 4.top

    verbWriting

    Be first in a ranking or exceed a level.

    Spain topped the list with 83 million visitors.

    Don't swap blindly: Also means 'go above': 'Sales topped 1 million'. Make the meaning clear from context.

  5. 5.the most

    adverb / determinerWriting and Speaking

    For the most popular, common or frequent item.

    Football was the most popular sport among boys.

  6. 6.lead

    verbWriting

    Be in first place over a period.

    Germany led the table for most of the decade.

  7. 7.exceed

    verbWriting

    Go above a number or another category.

    Exports exceeded imports for the first time in 2012.

  8. 8.overtake

    verbWriting

    One line rises above another that was higher before.

    By 2018, online sales had overtaken high-street sales.

    Don't swap blindly: Only when the order changes; if one item was always higher, use exceed.

  9. 9.dominate

    verbWriting

    Have by far the largest share.

    Coal dominated electricity production in 1990, at 70%.

    Don't swap blindly: Only when the gap is large; a lead of 2% is not domination.

  10. 10.maximum

    noun / adjectiveWriting

    Technical; the highest possible or recorded value.

    The reservoir reached its maximum capacity in March.

  11. 11.record high

    noun phraseWriting

    The highest figure ever recorded.

    House prices hit a record high in 2022, according to the survey.

    Don't swap blindly: It claims the highest ever, not just on this chart. If the chart covers ten years, write 'the highest figure in the period'.

  12. 12.hit

    verbWriting and Speaking

    Reach a level; neutral and a little informal.

    Ticket sales hit 1 million for the first time in 2019.

Paraphrasing

How to paraphrase “highest” well

  • In the overview, name the highest item without a figure; give the figures in the body paragraphs.
  • Use the lowest points too: reached a low of, bottomed out at, the smallest share.
  • Check the end of the period. A figure that ends at its highest point did not peak; it 'ended the period at its highest level'.

Band tip: the public IELTS Writing band descriptors for Lexical Resource describe Band 7 as using “less common lexical items” with “some awareness of style and collocation”. A synonym that changes your meaning or breaks a collocation works against you, so choose the word that fits the sentence, not the rarest one you know.

In context

Use it in an answer

Writing Task 1 (invented line graph: sales of three types of music format, 2000 to 2020)Written by BandLadder

CDs dominated the market in 2000, but their sales peaked at 140 million in 2004 and then fell steadily. Downloads rose to overtake CDs in 2011, while streaming, which began from almost nothing, reached its highest level in the final year, when it topped 200 million.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between peak and highest?+

A peak is a high point that is followed by a fall. 'Highest' is any top value, including one at the end of the period. If the line is still rising at the end, use highest, not peak.

How do I say one line went above another?+

Use overtake if the order changed: 'By 2011, downloads had overtaken CDs.' Use exceed or 'was higher than' if one was above the other the whole time.

Can I use 'record high' in Task 1?+

Only if the chart shows the highest figure ever recorded. Usually you should write 'the highest figure in the period', because the chart covers a limited time.

What are synonyms for lowest?+

Reached a low of, bottomed out at, the smallest share, the least popular. For a low point followed by a rise, a trough is also used in formal writing.

Practise

See real answers to paraphrase

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