upstairs

1 of 3

adverb

up·​stairs ˌəp-ˈsterz 

1

: up the stairs : on or to a higher floor

2

: to or at a high altitude or higher position

kicked upstairs to company management

3

: in the head : intellectually

… a little slow upstairs.

—Tom Clancy

upstairs

2 of 3

adjective

up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsterz 

: situated above the stairs especially on an upper floor

an upstairs bedroom

upstairs

3 of 3

noun

up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsterz 

ˈəp-ˌsterz

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: the part of a building above the ground floor

Examples of upstairs in a Sentence

Adverb

When you go upstairs, bring these towels with you.

She was on her way upstairs when she heard a car drive up.

Adjective

You can use the upstairs bathroom.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The ground-floor primary connects directly to the backyard, while upstairs, another includes a private balcony and a larger bath with a soaking tub. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2026

Grab a sausage roll at O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company, or settle upstairs at Farmgate Café, where dishes come with a side of Irish food history—tripe and drisheen, included. —Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026

Adjective

In addition to all the downstairs activity, the Hobbs Building also has all of its 31 upstairs apartments rented out, according to Ananthapadmanabhan. —R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

One upstairs room at the gallery features six of Gnoli’s bed paintings, most of which contain no figures. —Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026

Noun

Just like upstairs, all of the elements sang together in perfect harmony. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026

Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights, which is in Yorkshire, needed a stable, an upstairs and a kitchen. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1782, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1842, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing upstairs

• kick upstairs
• man upstairs
• the man upstairs
• the upstairs

Rhymes for upstairs

• affaires
• affairs
• armchairs
• bulgars
• compares
• crosshairs
• declares
• despairs
• downstairs
• forbears
• forebears
• housewares

Kids Definition

upstairs

1 of 3 adverb

up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz 

-ˈste(ə)rz

1

: up the stairs : to or on a higher floor

2

: to or at a higher position or level

upstairs

2 of 3 adjective

up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz 

-ˈste(ə)rz

: located on an upper floor

the upstairs bedroom

upstairs

3 of 3 noun

up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz  -ˈste(ə)rz 

ˈəp-ˌsta(ə)rz, 

-ˌste(ə)rz

: the part of a building above the ground floor