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

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

Academy staff had office space upstairs, again near the first team, facilitating conversations with the manager and executives. —Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

Holding court upstairs is a secondary primary suite, plus the en suite guest bedrooms and an au pair suite with its own kitchenette and private entrance. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Coomes has seen unexplained orbs fluttering in upstairs offices on the security cameras. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025

His upstairs neighbor the last few years has been Chad Hueffmeier, who runs Poseidon Resources, a company that manufactures dietary supplements sold at gas stations and smoke shops. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 2 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

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
• bulgars
• compares
• crosshairs
• declares
• despairs
• downstairs
• forbears
• forebears
• housewares

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