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

Where the trunk hatch would typically be is a set of stairs to enter the back of the vehicle. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025

Inside, a set of stairs with alternating treads leads up to the open sleeping loft, which features a double bed and a long window framing the view outside. —Kimberley Mok, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2025

To maximize natural sunlight and views through the garden-facing windows, the Brooklyn Studio team encouraged the homeowners to bring their kitchen up one flight of stairs from the garden level to the parlor floor. —David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 21 Apr. 2025

Following the fanfare and snapping of cameras, the guests were guided down a flight of stairs and into a lower level theater where yet another reveal would take place. —Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 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