high street

See also: highstreet and High Street

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English high strete, highestrete, haye-strete, hye strete, heiȝe strete, from Old English hēahstrǣt (“high road”), equivalent to high +‎ street.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

high street (plural high streets)

  1. (UK, Ireland, parts of New England) The main street of any town.
    Synonym: Main Street (US, Canada)
  2. (UK, Ireland) Mainstream shops, banks, etc. that can be found on such a street, in contrast to more specialist shops and services.
    • 2008 December 27, “Woolworths store closures begin”, in BBC:
      Woolworths has had a presence on the UK High Street for almost a century.
    • 2025 October 1, Richard Evans, “The value of the railway effect”, in RAIL, number 1045, page 58:
      The spending in and around local stations is creating micro-economies that are benefiting Great Britain's high streets, independent businesses and economic growth, both locally and on a national level.
  3. (UK, Ireland) Physical, bricks and mortar shops, in contrast to Internet shops.
    Synonym: bricks and mortar

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