high-rise
B2Neutral to formal; widely understood in everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A tall building with many floors, typically for residential or office use.
Characterizing something that is tall and rises significantly from its base; also used in linguistics to describe a tonal pattern.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun, also used attributively as a compound adjective (e.g., high-rise building). In urban planning, it implies a certain scale, often contrasted with low-rise developments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. 'High-rise' is standard in both. 'Tower block' is a common British synonym, less used in American English.
Connotations
In both, can connote modern urban living, density, and sometimes impersonal or anonymous environments.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to greater prevalence of such buildings in major cities; 'tower block' is a strong competitor in UK media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[high-rise] + [noun] (attributive use)live in a [high-rise]construct/build a [high-rise]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly with 'high-rise'. Concept appears in phrases like 'concrete jungle'.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to commercial real estate investments and urban development projects.
Academic
Used in sociology (urban studies), architecture, and civil engineering.
Everyday
Describing where one lives or works; discussing city landscapes.
Technical
In linguistics: 'high-rise terminal' describes a rising intonation at the end of an utterance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The high-rise development transformed the city's skyline.
- They live in a high-rise flat in Canary Wharf.
American English
- High-rise construction is booming in downtown Los Angeles.
- She works in a high-rise office building in Chicago.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My aunt lives in a high-rise.
- That high-rise is very tall.
- Many high-rise buildings were built in the city centre.
- The view from their high-rise apartment is amazing.
- The planning committee approved a new high-rise development despite local objections.
- Living in a high-rise can feel isolating if you don't know your neighbours.
- The proliferation of high-rises has fundamentally altered the urban microclimate and social dynamics of the district.
- Critics argue that high-rise social housing projects often fail to foster a sense of community.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a building so HIGH it seems to RISE straight into the clouds.
Conceptual Metaphor
VERTICALITY IS PROGRESS/MODERNITY; DENSITY IS EFFICIENCY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'высокий подъем'. Use 'многоэтажное здание' or 'небоскрёб' (for skyscrapers).
- Do not confuse with 'highway' or 'rise' as a verb.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'high-rise' as a verb (e.g., 'The city high-rises quickly' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'high-rise' (building) with 'high rise' (a steep increase).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'high-rise' used with a meaning unrelated to buildings?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly hyphenated when used as a compound adjective or noun: 'high-rise'. The unhyphenated 'high rise' can refer to a steep increase.
A 'skyscraper' is a type of very tall high-rise, typically over 40-50 storeys and of distinctive architectural ambition. All skyscrapers are high-rises, but not all high-rises are skyscrapers.
No, 'high-rise' is not standardly used as a verb. You cannot say 'the city high-rises'. Use verbs like 'to build up' or 'to construct tall buildings'.
'Tower block' is a very common British synonym, especially for residential buildings, often carrying a slightly more negative or utilitarian connotation.