downstairs

1 of 3

adverb

down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˈsterz 

: down the stairs : on or to a lower floor

downstairs

2 of 3

adjective

down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˌsterz 

: situated on the main, lower, or ground floor of a building

downstairs

3 of 3

noun

down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˈsterz 

ˈdau̇n-ˌsterz

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: the lower floor of a building

Examples of downstairs in a Sentence

Adverb

He ran downstairs to answer the door.

He lives downstairs from us.

“Where are the kids?” “They're downstairs.”

Adjective

There are five downstairs rooms.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

In the central room downstairs, on a table adjacent to the racks, are visual references and books, along with stacks of sketches and photographs and an array of glasses, vases, and silverware. — Chiara Barzini, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2026

Andrew and Abby came downstairs for breakfast and were joined by John Morse, the brother of Andrew’s late wife, Sarah. — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Although the house had running water at a downstairs sink and a water closet in the basement, there was no running water upstairs and no conventional bathroom. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026

The parties were held at a restaurant on Houston called E&O, in a downstairs room, with a Mad Libs assortment of guest deejays, from Moby to Michael Stipe. — Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Noun

My home office is on the second floor of the house, which leaves him the entire downstairs to enjoy without disrupting me during work hours. — Abigail Van Buren, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2026

Driving purpose beyond aesthetics, there’s one in mostly each of the six bedrooms as well as throughout downstairs. — Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1598, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1702, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing downstairs

• the downstairs

Rhymes for downstairs

• affaires
• affairs
• armchairs
• compares
• crosshairs
• declares
• despairs
• forbears
• forebears
• housewares
• impairs
• nightmares

Kids Definition

downstairs

1 of 3 adverb

down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˈsta(ə)rz 

-ˈste(ə)rz

: down the stairs : on or to a lower floor

downstairs

2 of 3 adjective

down·​stairs -ˌsta(ə)rz 

-ˌste(ə)rz

: situated on a lower level or on the main or first floor

downstairs

3 of 3 singular or plural noun

down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˈsta(ə)rz 

-ˈste(ə)rz, 

-ˌsta(ə)rz, 

-ˌste(ə)rz

: the lower floor of a building