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

Unlike other coastal destinations that easily succumb to high-rise condos, touristy restaurants, and run-of-the-mill souvenir shops, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea understands that growth doesn’t always equal progress. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 July 2025

Another residential development, Riviera Tower, will soar 200 meters or about 60 stories, offering a bioclimatic design that should enable the high-rise to blend seamlessly with the Athens Riviera’s natural environment. —Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

Noun

Quite the opposite: Agolde ‘90s Jeans are what make my high-rise-loving ‘90s-baby heart flutter. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2023

After Oksana’s death, Hryhorii and his wife, Ninel, moved into Oksana’s compact, tidy flat in a Kyiv high-rise. —Alice Martins, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2023

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