downstairs

[ adverb noun doun-stairz; adjective doun-stairz ]

adverb

1. down the stairs.
2. to or on a lower floor.

adjective

1. Also downstair. pertaining to or situated on a lower floor, especially the ground floor.

noun

1. (used with a singular verb) the lower floor or floors of a building:

   The downstairs is being painted.

2. the stairway designated for use by people descending:

   Don't try to go up the downstairs.

downstairs

/ ˈdaʊnˈstɛəz /

adverb

1. down the stairs; to or on a lower floor

noun

1. 1. a lower or ground floor
   2. ( as modifier )

      a downstairs room

2. See upstairs
   informal.
   the servants of a household collectively Compare upstairs

Word History and Origins

Origin of downstairs¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; down ¹ + stair + -s ³

Example Sentences

I went downstairs to get something and I heard one of the security team say to another, “Dude, I think they ought to lock these doors.”

From Ozy

He favors complete focus on Bills games, and so Johnson retreated to the third-floor attic, alone, while his wife and kids watched downstairs.

From Washington Post

He’d sneak downstairs to make one for himself, but I’d always find him.

From MIT Technology Review

We dress early for our reservation to allow a little time downstairs for a game of pool.

From Washington Blade

Whenever people lingered downstairs or smoked out on the patio, staff ushered them back to their rooms.

From ProPublica

Before long, however, he began to feel out of place and went back downstairs for a while to chat up the cook.

From The Daily Beast

Victoria was, for example, not allowed to walk downstairs without Conroy holding her hand.

From The Daily Beast

I immediately went downstairs and told Dad about the dream whilst he was having his breakfast.

From The Daily Beast

He lived in the Pseudo office, where his downstairs neighbors included Jeff Koons.

From The Daily Beast

My coworkers used to run downstairs to stand on 53rd Street and watch celebrities arrive.

From The Daily Beast

The night wore on, and the clock downstairs was striking the hour of two when she suddenly awakened.

From Project Gutenberg

He could lie in bed and string himself tales of travel and adventure while Harry was downstairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Shrieking inarticulate anathema, he rushed downstairs, the man in the green baize apron following at his heels.

From Project Gutenberg

The detective went downstairs and talked with Mrs. McCarthy a few minutes, and then took his leave.

From Project Gutenberg

She was so bewildered as to be more alive to the present distress of his condition than to the vague horrors downstairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• basement
• canvas
• carpet
• deck
• flooring
• ground
• mat
• rug
• stage