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

Gen storms downstairs after finding out that Luke sent Joy flowers, and Aesha follows. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026

In the press box, Ravens assistants hustled downstairs to join the celebration. — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Adjective

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

The stairwell, swathed in Howe at 36 Bourne Street’s Cypress Paper in Cocoa, creates a welcoming entry into a downstairs playroom, which features a crafting nook that’s painted in Benjamin Moore’s Flint (AF-560). — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 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