stairwell

noun

stair·​well ˈster-ˌwel How to pronounce stairwell (audio)
: a vertical shaft in which stairs are located

Examples of stairwell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Officers surrounded Lindsey, with some cops on the stairwell and others in a hallway on the other side of the door, according to a civil complaint. Kansas City Star, 8 July 2025 Advertisement During a Hamas missile barrage, an elderly relative of mine would settle for sitting on the steps in the stairwell of his second-floor apartment in Bat Yam, a coastal suburb of Tel Aviv. Orly Halpern, Time, 18 June 2025 In Israel, people have taken shelter in stairwells and bomb shelters, and are coping with Tehran’s ability to penetrate the country’s sophisticated defense shield. Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 18 June 2025 The extra crews accessed the fire from stairwells and standpipe connections. Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for stairwell

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stairwell was in 1920

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Cite this Entry

“Stairwell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stairwell. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

stairwell

noun
stair·​well -ˌwel How to pronounce stairwell (audio)
: a vertical shaft in which stairs are located

More from Merriam-Webster on stairwell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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