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

see also:

kick upstairs

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

Mindy Miranda said her 8-year-old daughter was in her third-grade classroom upstairs when shots rang out. — Kaila Nichols, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

The renovations add a media room and private study upstairs, along with more practical space below, while keeping the house’s original architectural character intact. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Additionally, the facility had 130 rodent droppings throughout the facility including among debris underneath the fish tank, on the bottom shelf of the cart and rodent urine on the floor in the back upstairs room. — Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026

An expansive upstairs primary suite comes with two dressing rooms and a marble bath. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

No paper towels available at either the downstairs or upstairs handwashing sinks. — Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026

On weekends, DJs performed across its basement, main floor and upstairs spaces. — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 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
• compares
• crosshairs
• declares
• despairs
• downstairs
• forbears
• forebears
• housewares
• impairs

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