multi-storey

multi-storey — adjective

1. describes a building that has three or more levels stacked one on top of another

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a building that has three or more levels stacked one on top of another — for example, a car park with several floors, an office block, or a block of flats.

Example

The company moved into a newly built multi-storey office block near the station.

attributive use: multi-storey + office block

Mei-Lin left her car on level three of the multi-storey car park.

attributive use: multi-storey + car park

Common collocations
  • multi-storey building
  • multi-storey car park
  • multi-storey office block
  • multi-storey block of flats
Synonyms
  • many-storeyed

    less common; used in more formal or literary descriptions of buildings

  • high-rise

    specific to tall buildings with many floors (often 10+); not used for low blocks of flats

  • multilevel

    can describe buildings but also car parks, shopping centres; less specific to residential blocks

Antonyms
  • single-storey

    describes a building with only one floor

  • bungalow

    a house that is all on one level, often with a low roof

Grammar Patterns

multi-storey + noun (building, car park, office block)

Usage Note

Attributive only — 'multi-storey' appears directly before the noun it describes (a multi-storey car park, a multi-storey office building). It is the standard British spelling; the US equivalent is 'multi-story'.

Common Mistakes

We work in a multi-storey.' (used as a noun)
We work in a multi-storey building.
'multi-storey' is an adjective and must be followed by a noun like 'building', 'car park', or 'block'.
I live in a storey building.' (missing 'multi-')
I live in a multi-storey building.
'storey' alone means one level; use 'multi-storey' when the building has several floors.

Word family

  • storey
    nounB1
  • storeyed
    adjectiveB2
  • multi-storeyed
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Multi-storey' is the most neutral, everyday British term for any building with three or more floors — a small block of flats or a large car park both qualify. 'High-rise' is narrower: it describes a very tall building (often ten storeys or more) that stands out above its surroundings, and it typically suggests a residential tower or office skyscraper. 'Multilevel' is more general and can apply to non-building structures (a multilevel car park, a multilevel shopping centre); it feels slightly more American. 'Many-storeyed' is rare outside literary or very formal writing. If you are describing an ordinary apartment block in the UK, 'multi-storey block of flats' is the natural choice; for a 30-storey city-centre tower, 'high-rise' fits better.

multi-storey ↗high-rise ↗multilevelmany-storeyed

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

LatinAnglo-LatinEnglish

'Multi-storey' combines the Latin prefix 'multi-' (meaning 'many') with 'storey', the British English spelling for 'story' meaning a floor or level of a building. 'Storey' itself comes from the Anglo-Latin 'historia' (picture or narrative), because medieval builders often decorated each floor level with painted scenes or windows telling a story. The compound adjective has been in use since the 19th century as cities grew upward.

First known use

1871

1871, in the meaning defined above