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
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
From polished high-rise apartments to historic homes updated for modern living, the firm’s portfolio showcases its ability to work on projects of all sizes and styles. Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025 But despite the gleaming images of Pyongyang’s new skyline, high-rise living in North Korea is not necessarily a symbol of luxury. Oscar Holland, CNN, 19 Mar. 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 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 23 Mar. 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
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