skyscraper
SKEYE-skrayp-uh
Skyscraper (noun) means a very tall multi-storey building. Example: “The city's skyline is dominated by gleaming glass skyscrapers.”
noun
1
A very tall multi-storey building.
"Construction of the world’s tallest unoccupied skyscraper may resume as early as next week, almost 10 years after work ground to a halt, according to Chinese state media."
— Oscar Holland, Construction of world’s tallest abandoned skyscraper to resume after a decade (2025)
"Its steel helped build America, from the skyscrapers dotting city landscapes to the cars speeding down highways, to the appliances inside millions of homes."
— Luciana Lopez and Chris Isidore, US Steel and Nippon Steel say Trump has approved their partnership (2025)
"The city's skyline is dominated by gleaming glass skyscrapers."
"A new skyscraper is being built downtown next to the station."
How to use skyscraper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very tall building, usually in a city centre.
Common pairings
towering skyscraper
glass skyscraper
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Word forms
- Plural
- skyscrapers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The city's skyline is dominated by gleaming glass _____.
Etymology
A compound of "sky" and "scraper", first used for tall steel-framed buildings in American cities like New York and Chicago during the 1880s.
Class of 1880
skyscraper joined the language around 1880.
See the full Class of 1880 →
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for skyscraper
See all rhymes for skyscraper →Frequently asked questions
What does “skyscraper” mean?
The word “skyscraper” means a very tall multi-storey building. In plain terms, a very tall building, usually in a city centre.
How do you pronounce “skyscraper”?
“Skyscraper” is pronounced SKEYE-skrayp-uh (/ˈskaɪˌskɹeɪpɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “skyscraper” in a sentence?
Here is “skyscraper” used in a sentence: “The city's skyline is dominated by gleaming glass skyscrapers.”
What is the opposite of “skyscraper”?
The opposite of “skyscraper” — its antonyms — are earthscraper and groundscraper.
What part of speech is “skyscraper”?
“Skyscraper” is a noun.
Where does the word “skyscraper” come from?
The word “skyscraper” dates back to around 1880. A compound of "sky" and "scraper", first used for tall steel-framed buildings in American cities like New York and Chicago during the 1880s.
Is “skyscraper” a common word?
“Skyscraper” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
