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

Some major airports saw lines snaking down stairs, into parking garages and through concourses, while others asked travelers to arrive well ahead of schedule to make their flights. —Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2026

In 2024, Gifford fell down the stairs in her Tennessee home, breaking her pelvis in two places. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered civil servants to conserve energy and work from home among a raft of measures that also include a suspension of overseas trips and using stairs instead of escalators. —Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 10 Mar. 2026

Thailand has suspended overseas travel for civil servants and urged them to take stairs instead of elevators. —Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

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