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

Key pieces include a women’s high-rise bootcut jean with an allover star pattern and red logo patch on the back and a women’s high-rise denim short with a two-inch inseam, curved dolphin hem, red stitching and a red Lee back patch. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 May 2026

That mission involves a teleportation device, human transmogrification, and a luxury high-rise with an absurd 45-degree slant. —Matthew Jacobs, Time, 19 May 2026

Noun

Opie photographed images in that show from the balcony of her Hollywood high-rise. —Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026

To watch the sunrise, the inebriated couple climb to the rooftop of a high-rise tower block, where Lux falls asleep and Jessie stands too close to the edge. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 24 May 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