From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishloftyloft‧y /ˈlɒfti $ ˈlɒː/ adjective 1 HIGH literary lofty mountains, buildings etc are very high and impressive He stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, from whose lofty heights he could see across New York.► see thesaurus at high2 GOOD/MORALlofty ideas, beliefs, attitudes etc show high standards or high moral qualities – use this to show approval lofty ideals of equality and social justice He had set himself the lofty goal of reaching the world’s top five.3 PROUDseeming to think you are better than other people – used to show disapproval She has such a lofty manner. —loftily adverb —loftiness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
lofty• With so lofty a title one might expect a similarly lofty agenda and goals.• The vaulting is ribbed throughout, lofty and well-proportioned.• In less lofty circles, pay rises do not compensate for changes in other conditions at work.• But other destinations ride with the tide, piling on entertainment and sometimes loftier diversions.• In fact, Jack Welch says, -Globalization is no longer a lofty ideal.• That lofty notion spread like a virulent germ into every law school in the nation.• Burton always had a calm, lofty perspective on his work as an actor.• He glanced towards Rain but she took the lofty view that bribing security men was not her concern. 