upstairs

1 of 3

adverb

up·​stairs ˌəp-ˈsterz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
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 How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
: situated above the stairs especially on an upper floor
an upstairs bedroom

upstairs

3 of 3

noun

up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsterz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Others have opted for the puppeteering class, upstairs, where pairs of students are taught to bring their humanoid puppets to life. — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 On the ground floor there are books in English and French while upstairs there’s a theater where people in the audience can sit in the US with their feet in Canada. — Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Tinies Tinies in South Main Village offers a patio and upstairs terrace overlooking downtown Fort Worth. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026 The lounge also includes an upstairs private area that can be rented for corporate gatherings and other functions. — Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
From upstairs comes the sound of the two of them fighting for the roller chair. — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 When people hear of their upstairs-downstairs arrangement, no one is shocked. — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upstairs

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of upstairs was in 1584

Phrases Containing upstairs

Rhymes for upstairs

See All Rhymes for upstairs

Browse Nearby Words

upstage
upstairs
upstairs man
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstairs. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

upstairs

1 of 3 adverb
up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
-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 How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
-ˈste(ə)rz
: located on an upper floor
the upstairs bedroom

upstairs

3 of 3 noun
up·​stairs ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz How to pronounce upstairs (audio) -ˈste(ə)rz How to pronounce upstairs (audio)
ˈəp-ˌsta(ə)rz, 
-ˌste(ə)rz
: the part of a building above the ground floor
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