upstairs

1 of 3

adverb

up·​stairs ˌəp-ˈsterz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
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 upstairsTom Clancy

upstairs

2 of 3

adjective

up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsterz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
: situated above the stairs especially on an upper floor
an upstairs bedroom

upstairs

3 of 3

noun

up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsterz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
What makes this tiny home even more special and spacious is the two lofts located upstairs on either side of the house, which can be used as office or storage spaces or additional bedrooms. Travel + Leisure Staff, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025 Two sisters with a tragic story are said to linger upstairs at Langston’s Western Wear, and unexplained voices and rattling glassware have been heard at Gabriella’s Italian Grill, a Prohibition-era building with a gangsters and gambling history. Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
There's also an upstairs retail store within Union Assembly. Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025 Coomes has seen unexplained orbs fluttering in upstairs offices on the security cameras. Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
The pair aimed for more of the same upstairs. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025 And constant headaches coming from upstairs. David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for upstairs

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of upstairs was in 1584

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstairs. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

upstairs

1 of 3 adverb
up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
-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 How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
-ˈste(ə)rz
: located on an upper floor
the upstairs bedroom

upstairs

3 of 3 noun
up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz How to pronounce upstairs (audio) -ˈste(ə)rz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
ˈəp-ˌsta(ə)rz,
-ˌste(ə)rz
: the part of a building above the ground floor

More from Merriam-Webster on upstairs

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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