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

But one of the highest aspirations for this high-rise hospital is to give patients a sense of control. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Oct. 2025

The stadium is directly across the street from the property Trump plans to use for a high-rise presidential library after a state board voted to give the Miami Dade College land to Trump’s presidential library foundation for free with few strings attached. —Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025

Noun

The high-rise jeans come in sizes 24–35 with long, standard, and short inseams available. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

The Miami site is surrounded by luxury high-rise apartment buildings and has waterfront views, facing directly at the Kaseya Center, home to the NBA’s Miami Heat, as well as Dodge Island, where many of the world’s largest cruise liners dock. —Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025

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