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

The Freo lifted the dust by the chalkboard and at the foot of the stairs, a spot that is often ignored. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 May 2025

The twins were all smiles in photos with their dates, who both had to carry the girls down a flight of stairs due to their body-hugging dresses. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 19 May 2025

Stand at the top or bottom of the stairs, and watch the elderly and those struggling with canes, walkers, baby carriages and prostheses. —Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025

Slipped while descending a flight of stairs but managed to grab the handrail just in time? —Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 16 May 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