down·stairs
ˈdau̇n-ˌsterz 
: situated on the main, lower, or ground floor of a building
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
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 18 June 2025
The inspiration behind turning it into a musical instrument evolved from the poor insulation: the couple could hear their next-door neighbor rehearse through the walls while downstairs, and their co-resident could be heard hammering daily in his hardware store.
—Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 10 May 2025
This would have flooded the downstairs neighbor with warm fuzzies.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Rachael O'Connor Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Dragon Tiny Homes Unusually for such a compact tiny house – to put its size into perspective, the Pisgah Park Model is over 20 ft (6 m) longer, for example – the Avalon V2 includes a downstairs bedroom, which can also be optionally turned into an office space.
—New Atlas, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for downstairs
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Adverb
Two members of Nadler’s staff had gone downstairs to observe and, when tensions flared, invited the activists upstairs to defuse the situation.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 18 June 2025
The inspiration behind turning it into a musical instrument evolved from the poor insulation: the couple could hear their next-door neighbor rehearse through the walls while downstairs, and their co-resident could be heard hammering daily in his hardware store.
—Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Adjective
The family had a late pizza dinner before heading to bed, with Molly’s parents going to sleep in the downstairs guest bedroom, ABC News reported.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 10 May 2025
This would have flooded the downstairs neighbor with warm fuzzies.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Noun
A couple living in an apartment complex were baffled when their downstairs neighbor accused them of repeatedly dropping weights on the floor.
—Rachael O'Connor Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Dragon Tiny Homes Unusually for such a compact tiny house – to put its size into perspective, the Pisgah Park Model is over 20 ft (6 m) longer, for example – the Avalon V2 includes a downstairs bedroom, which can also be optionally turned into an office space.
—New Atlas, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for downstairs
Cite this Entry
“Downstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downstairs. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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