Birds soared high above the ground.

Meaning: Birds flew at great heights, circling and gliding effortlessly.

Choice of Words: Birds are flying creatures. Soared means to fly high in the sky. High indicates a great altitude. Above means being higher than something. Ground refers to the surface of the earth.

Alternative Expressions

The birds were flying very high in the sky.

Meaning: This means the same as the first sentence, that the birds were flying way up high in the sky.

Choice of Words: The is used to refer to something specific. Birds are animals with feathers and wings that can fly. Were is a verb that means to exist or to be somewhere. Flying means to move through the air using wings. Very means to a great extent or degree. High means far above the ground. In means to be enclosed or surrounded by something. The is used again to refer to something specific. Sky is the space above the earth and below outer space. When you put them together, "The birds were flying very high in the sky" means that the birds were flying very high up in the air.

The feathered creatures ascended to great heights in the atmosphere.

Meaning: This means the same as the first two sentences, that the birds were flying way up high in the sky.

Choice of Words: The is used to refer to something specific. Feathered means having feathers. Creatures is a general term for animals. Ascended means to move upwards. To is used to indicate direction or purpose. Great means large or significant. Heights means the distance from the ground to the sky. In means to be enclosed or surrounded by something. The is used again to refer to something specific. Atmosphere is the air that surrounds the earth. When you put them together, "The feathered creatures ascended to great heights in the atmosphere" means that the birds flew very high up in the sky.

Related Expressions