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

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
Quinn orders Paulie upstairs to go shoot the (smaller) big man, but Reacher is already running for the garage. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025 Morton said last year that the takeover by the Brigantine would include a significant upgrade to the Fish Market and upstairs Top of the Market on San Diego Bay that could potentially cost $20 million or more. — Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The house has an upstairs, primary bedroom and deck that look east toward the expansive mountain range. — David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025 Hours after the initial round of texts, at 10:23 a.m., Ms. Mortensen sent more messages to her upstairs roommates — Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21 — asking if either of them were awake. — Mike Baker, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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 The restaurant outfitted its upstairs specifically for Ms. Flack, with a stage and rows of pew-style seating. — Giovanni Russonello, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 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 28 Mar. 2025.

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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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Nglish: Translation of upstairs for Spanish Speakers

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