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

Ellmaker chased Zenner downstairs with a knife, and his mother tried to intervene. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026

In January, potential jurors waited downstairs of the Orange County Courthouse as tensions came to a boil between Edgar and his attorney after Edgar wrote a letter to the judge alleging Barrett refused to explore an insanity defense. — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The Grand Forks Police Department in North Dakota confirmed to Entertainment Weekly’s sister site PEOPLE on Friday that Duckworth was found dead in his apartment Tuesday after his downstairs neighbor reported water coming through the ceiling. — Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

Something for the windowsill in his downstairs toilet, maybe? — Beren Cross, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Noun

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

Their children, Sara and Jackie, move into the flat downstairs. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 13 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