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
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Once the match is over, guests are invited upstairs to a lounge area, which is fully equipped with a stage and a live DJ, to continue hanging out.
—Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
As if good bone structure was exclusive to upstairs people!
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 28 Mar. 2025
The venue has plans to use its upstairs as a yoga and dance studio and will offer different kinds of movement classes as time goes on, including, perhaps, a slow-motion meditation class on Sunday mornings.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstairs
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Adverb
Sultan led me upstairs, to the I.C.U., where wind blew through broken windows.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Once the match is over, guests are invited upstairs to a lounge area, which is fully equipped with a stage and a live DJ, to continue hanging out.
—Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Once the blaze was put out, investigators determined that Brunson used a book of matches to set fire to the bedding inside the two upstairs bedrooms.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
As if good bone structure was exclusive to upstairs people!
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
The two-level accommodation includes roomy chairs, a sitting area that doubles as a full bed, and an upstairs with a queen bed.
—Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 28 Mar. 2025
The venue has plans to use its upstairs as a yoga and dance studio and will offer different kinds of movement classes as time goes on, including, perhaps, a slow-motion meditation class on Sunday mornings.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 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 3 May. 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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