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

Double doors lead out to the outdoor garden, while a set of stairs leads up into a room above, where a party starts to filter in. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025

Hyde was where Shanna Moakler socked Paris Hilton for kissing her husband and MTV co-star, Travis Barker; in retaliation, a Greek shipping heir loyal to Hilton allegedly shoved the former Playmate down the stairs. —Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025

Steve’s mother died from stomach cancer in 2018, and six months later, his father died unexpectedly after falling down the stairs. —Erin Clements, People.com, 12 June 2025

The Dursleys grudgingly take Harry in after his parents’ death, forcing him to live in a cupboard under the stairs and essentially treating him like a servant rather than their nephew. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 June 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