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
Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
The 12,500-square-foot, two-story building will be on a little less than 4 acres with event space on the first floor that could hold more than 400 people and space upstairs that could seat 150 with a deck.
—Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025
Photo: Tim Crout An upstairs garden is all about the view.
—Tim Crout, Curbed, 1 May 2025
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for upstairs
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Adverb
But the point is, all of that stuff is taken from upstairs (the front office) to downstairs (the coaches).
—Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
The 12,500-square-foot, two-story building will be on a little less than 4 acres with event space on the first floor that could hold more than 400 people and space upstairs that could seat 150 with a deck.
—Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Investigators found that multiple fires had been intentionally set throughout the house, one on the couch in the living room, one on a chair in an upstairs bedroom and one at the center of the bed in another upstairs bedroom, police said.
—Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025
Photo: Tim Crout An upstairs garden is all about the view.
—Tim Crout, Curbed, 1 May 2025
Noun
Maddie badly lies that Reagan's upstairs and scampers away to shut herself in the bathroom.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for upstairs
Cite this Entry
“Upstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstairs. Accessed 7 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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