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

Downtown Nashville high-rise developer Giarratana has secured a $340 million financing deal for Paramount, a 60-story residential building planned for 1010 Church St., according to a news release. —Molly Davis, The Tennessean, 22 Aug. 2025

View gallery - 5 images This eye-catching tower offers a welcome change from surrounding glass and concrete high-rise buildings with its lush exterior. —New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025

Noun

Viewers could catch several blocks of mid- to high-rise buildings along Woodward Avenue, along with the new Hudson's site skyscraper. —Dana Afana, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025

The New York City church, located in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, has been facing ongoing threats of demolition and eviction to build high-rise apartments. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 27 Aug. 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