The airplane soared high above the clouds.

Meaning: The airplane moved very smoothly through the air, at a great height, above the clouds.

Choice of Words: Soar means to fly or move through the air in a smooth, gliding way. High means at or to a great elevation. Clouds are visible masses of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.

Alternative Expressions

The airplane flew up high in the sky.

Meaning: This means the same as the first sentence, that the airplane was flying very high, up in the sky. It's like saying, The airplane was flying so high that it was up in the sky.

Choice of Words: Flew means to travel through the air using wings. Up means in an upward direction. High means at a great elevation or altitude. Sky is the space above the Earth's surface where the clouds are. When you put them together, "The airplane flew up high in the sky" means that the airplane was flying at a high altitude, up in the sky.

The airplane ascended to a great height among the clouds.

Meaning: This means the same as the first two sentences, that the airplane was flying very high, up in the sky, among the clouds. It's like saying, The airplane climbed so high that it was up among the clouds.

Choice of Words: Ascended means to move or climb upward. To is a preposition that indicates movement towards something. A is an indefinite article that refers to any one of a group of things. Great means large or impressive in size or degree. Height means the vertical distance from the base to the top of something. Among means in the midst of or surrounded by. Clouds are visible masses of water vapor suspended in the atmosphere. When you put them together, "The airplane ascended to a great height among the clouds" means that the airplane climbed to a high altitude, up among the clouds.

Related Expressions