high-rise

1 of 2

adjective

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for high-rise

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-rise was in 1908

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-rise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-rise. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

high-rise

adjective
ˈhī-ˈrīz
: having several stories and being equipped with elevators
high-rise apartments
high-rise noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!