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

The $500-million project to build a high-rise hotel, offices and shops at the site has met fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad, as well as the Serbian public. —CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025

Michelle Carr: Window washer for high-rise buildings. —Literary Hub, 11 Nov. 2025

Noun

These high-rise flares are made with stretchy, curve-hugging denim that lifts, smooths, and lengthens your legs in that magical Spanx way. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025

An approval by the commission would give the green light to BH3 Merrimac, which plans to build two high-rise towers containing hotel rooms and condo units on the site on the south side of Watson Island. —Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 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