stair

noun

ˈster 

1

: a series of steps or flights of steps for passing from one level to another

—often used in plural but singular or plural in construction

… a narrow private stairs …

—Lewis Mumford

2

: a single step of a stairway

Examples of stair in a Sentence

She ran down the stairs.

He waited at the foot of the stairs.

She slipped and fell down the stairs.

The stairs lead to the roof.

We had to climb another flight of stairs to get to the roof.

He tripped on the bottom stair and almost fell.

Recent Examples on the Web

Along the stair railing was a garland adorned with golden baubles and lights. —Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025

But after hearing the ruckus on the upper floors, Steve runs up the stairs to help Nancy, recklessly so. —Kate Aurthur, Variety, 26 Dec. 2025

From corralling toddlers away from climbing the stairs 82 times, to convincing teens there is more to life than Snapping with their friends from their beds for 15 hours a day, there will be something here to help all parents through the break! —Melissa Willets, Parents, 25 Dec. 2025

Yoshida was there for a photoshoot that involved snowboarders doing tricks along a set of stairs and railing next to an apartment complex. —Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English steir, from Old English stǣger; akin to Old English & Old High German stīgan to rise, Greek steichein to walk

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stair

• stair climber
• stair climbing
• stair stepper

Rhymes for stair

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

stair

noun

ˈsta(ə)r 

ˈste(ə)r

1

: a series of steps or flights of steps for passing from one level to another

—often used in plural

ran down the stairs

2

: one step of a stairway