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
Tom Clancy
up·stairs
ˈəp-ˈsterz
: situated above the stairs especially on an upper floor
an upstairs bedroom
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
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
Sure enough, Andrew starts to play his sadistic mind games with Millie, who eventually manages to fight back and lock him upstairs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Brandon Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Directed by Ha Jung-woo and starring Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Dong-wook, Lee Ha-nee and Ha Jung-woo himself, the film follows a downstairs couple driven to exhaustion by constant noise from their upstairs neighbours.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 3 Dec. 2025
That’s when this upstairs-downstairs comedy becomes a whodunit.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstairs
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Adverb
Nina, encouraged by Enzo, returns to the house believing Millie is the one locked upstairs, only to discover Andrew’s body instead.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
Sure enough, Andrew starts to play his sadistic mind games with Millie, who eventually manages to fight back and lock him upstairs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Multiple bars, an upstairs event space, a gazebo, and several other outdoor areas have made Stone a popular place for North County businesses to host events and residents to hold a variety of gatherings, including lavish weddings.
—Brandon Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Directed by Ha Jung-woo and starring Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Dong-wook, Lee Ha-nee and Ha Jung-woo himself, the film follows a downstairs couple driven to exhaustion by constant noise from their upstairs neighbours.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
Noun
The affair grows less decorous in farcical scenes of upstairs and downstairs life — kitchen staff toiling away on blunts, a trigger-happy shooting party, and cockney pub patrons breaking out in song — and the various side plots.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 3 Dec. 2025
That’s when this upstairs-downstairs comedy becomes a whodunit.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstairs
Cite this Entry
“Upstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstairs. Accessed 29 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
-ˈste(ə)rz
ˈəp-ˌsta(ə)rz,
-ˌste(ə)rz
: the part of a building above the ground floor
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