excessive / elevated
Loading your saved state.
excessive
Inappropriately or excessively high, especially for prices, demands, or speeds.
Die Werkstatt verlangte einen völlig überhöhten Preis für die Reparatur.
The repair shop charged a completely excessive price for the repair.
'Überhöht' (excessive/elevated) is the past participle of the inseparable verb 'überhöhen' (to exaggerate/elevate). The prefix 'über-' in combination with an adjective like 'hoch' (high) often indicates excess, meaning 'too high'.
Man sollte die Bedeutung dieses Ereignisses nicht künstlich überhöhen.
One should not artificially exaggerate the significance of this event.
In the meaning 'zu hoch' (too high), 'überhöht' (excessive) is very often combined with the nouns 'Preis' (price), 'Geschwindigkeit' (speed), or 'Forderung' (demand).
Er wurde von der Polizei angehalten, weil er mit überhöhter Geschwindigkeit gefahren ist.
He was stopped by the police because he had been driving at excessive speed.
You will usually find the meaning 'idealisiert' (idealized) in texts about art, literature, or history. It often describes a 'Darstellung' (depiction), a 'Bild' (image), or a 'Figur' (figure/character).
Die Biografie zeichnet ein stark überhöhtes Bild des Politikers.
The biography paints a strongly idealized image of the politician.
The third meaning is technical and is used almost only in the context of road construction, rail transport, or racetracks. Most often it refers to the noun 'Kurve' (curve).
Dank der überhöhten Kurve konnte das Auto die Geschwindigkeit halten.
Thanks to the banked curve, the car was able to maintain its speed.
high
'hoch' and 'überhöht' both have to do with a large value, for example with prices, demands, or speed. The important difference is the evaluation: 'hoch' is neutral. It only says that the value is large. 'überhöht' means that the value is too high or unreasonably high. Learners may confuse the words because both contain the word 'hoch'. If you are only describing a size or level, use 'hoch'. If you want to express criticism, use 'überhöht'.
Der Kunde findet den Preis für die kleine Reparatur überhöht.
The customer thinks the price for the small repair is excessive.
Die Kosten für den Sprachkurs sind in diesem Jahr hoch.
The costs for the language course are high this year.