high-rise

1 of 2

adjective

ˈhī-ˈrīz 

1

: being multistory and equipped with elevators

high-rise apartments

2

: of, relating to, or characterized by high-rise buildings

a high-rise complex

3

: having a longer than standard rise (see rise entry 2 sense 7)

high-rise jeans

There are boxer shorts, low-rise briefs, high-rise briefs, … and colors galore.

—Nancy Lawson

high-rise

2 of 2

noun

ˈhī-ˌrīz 

variants or less commonly high rise

plural high-rises also high rises

: a building (such as an apartment building) that has multiple stories and is equipped with elevators

They live on the tenth floor of a high-rise.

Examples of high-rise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The incident occurred Thursday morning at a high-rise building in North York, Toronto, police said. —Ahmad Mukhtar, CBS News, 12 June 2026

Raw hems create a casual, carefree finish that’ll look stunning with any footwear in your suitcase (heels and sneakers included), plus the high-rise fit is Oprah-approved. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026

Noun

In one incident, shots were fired at the front door of a unit in an apartment high-rise on March 25. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 16 June 2026

The commercial shows the 53-year-old Oscar-winning actress and lifestyle entrepreneur waking up in a New York luxury high-rise apartment and going for a run through the city. —Kelly Hartog, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

high-rise

adjective

ˈhī-ˈrīz

: having several stories and being equipped with elevators

high-rise apartments

high-rise noun