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downstairs

1 of 3

adverb

down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˈsterz How to pronounce downstairs (audio)
Synonyms of downstairsnext
: down the stairs : on or to a lower floor

downstairs

2 of 3

adjective

down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˌsterz How to pronounce downstairs (audio)
: situated on the main, lower, or ground floor of a building

downstairs

3 of 3

noun

down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˈsterz How to pronounce downstairs (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Tension climbed until an odor downstairs left her girlfriend asking if the cat had gotten sick. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025 The challenge was making sure upstairs and downstairs didn’t feel like two different worlds. Photovogue, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Sunday, Sharonville Convention Center, downstairs ballroom, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville. Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Dec. 2025 Before heading to take the stand, Kim spoke with her childhood friend Simone Harouche, who was downstairs while the robbery occurred. Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
That’s when this upstairs-downstairs comedy becomes a whodunit. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025 Eventually, Georgi crossed paths with Darcey, Stacey and Florian downstairs, where tempers flared once again. Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for downstairs

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of downstairs was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downstairs. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

downstairs

1 of 3 adverb
down·​stairs ˈdau̇n-ˈsta(ə)rz How to pronounce downstairs (audio)
-ˈste(ə)rz
: down the stairs : on or to a lower floor

downstairs

2 of 3 adjective
down·​stairs -ˌsta(ə)rz How to pronounce downstairs (audio)
-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 How to pronounce downstairs (audio)
-ˈste(ə)rz
-ˌsta(ə)rz
-ˌste(ə)rz
: the lower floor of a building

More from Merriam-Webster on downstairs

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