Home British & World English high road

Definition of high road in English:

high road

noun

1A main road.
in place names ‘Kilburn High Road’
- ‘Lambeth Council has been working hard to improve street sweeping and has installed more litter bins along the high road.’
- ‘It was a very dark night, and a thin rain began to fall as we turned from the high road into a narrow lane, deeply rutted, with hedges on either side.’
- ‘Around 40 minutes after she was grabbed a man in his 50s was arrested in Tottenham High Road on suspicion of abducting her.’
- ‘Because of the disparate nature of the electorate, candidates must take to the high roads and by-roads and visit councillors individually to solicit their votes.’
- ‘Lamps will be installed on the high road to cast light on the road and pavement.’
street, road, roadway, avenue, boulevard, way
View synonyms
1. 1.1 A direct or certain route or course.
  ‘the high road to social justice’
  ‘It is time to take the high road to a more equal Britain - and a more equal world.’
  ‘Virtually all schools of Buddhism see meditation as the high road to enlightenment, and it constitutes a major part of the ‘experiential’ dimension of Buddhism as a religion.’
  ‘Here, following the banner of reform, led by the gentlemen of that most aristocratic Whig Government, they saw for a time before them the high road to a better and fairer ordering of society.’
  ‘Learning to accept the flaws in themselves and others is not the pathway to mediocrity; it's the high road to a more loving - and satisfying - life.’
  ‘Take away those rights and ‘freedom of expression’ becomes an empty phrase and we are on the high road to totalitarianism.’
2. 1.2North American A morally superior approach towards something.
  ‘the company took the high road, announcing it would extend the benefits to all its workers’
  ‘But while both candidates took the high road yesterday, it seemed evident the tape would have an impact on the presidential race.’
  ‘He's still coarse and unsympathetic but when he starts taking the moral high road, the film goes downhill.’
  ‘Instead of just saying, ‘Me,’ he takes the high road and says, ‘We're about the same.’’
  ‘I thought that in light of his juvenile hysterics, I was taking the high road by simply leaving him in silence, never to speak to him again, but now I have an overwhelming urge to tell him what I really think of him.’
  ‘We'll take the high road and assume it's a misunderstanding.’
  ‘Now, it certainly could be that Kerry is cynically pretending to take the high road, while letting the national press do his dirty work for him.’
  ‘But in the absence of any evidence, he took the high road and conceded the race.’
  ‘The way to beat the animal rights movement is to take the high road and avoid engaging in such ridiculous tactics.’
  ‘Are negative campaigns more likely to win than campaigns that take the high road and avoid attacking the opponent?’
  ‘Then, we will review a few suggestions to make taking the high road more acceptable in your own company.’
  ‘Because really, I've taken the high road through a lot of moments, where I could have, you know, retaliated.’
  ‘They took the high road and ended up with a great level of support.’
  ‘In foreign policy, its hard to claim the moral high road when you're stumbling down the low road arm-in-arm with repressive dictators.’
  ‘Mr. Ward took the high road by acknowledging his error and proceeded with the organization's agenda.’
  ‘I am done with taking the high road and turning the other cheek.’
  ‘How about taking the high road of pro-active, peaceful personal change, instead of trying to point the finger at others?’
  ‘What is the best way to speak up for myself while still taking the high road?’
  ‘She always took the high road and never compromised her integrity.’
  ‘These Silicon Valley leaders are taking the ethical high road - and betting that it's the road to success.’
  ‘Abercrombie chose to take the high road, eschewing promotions to preserve the brand's exclusivity and lofty margins - the highest of any teen retailer.’