downstairs

American  

[doun-stairz, doun-stairz] / ˈdaʊnˈstɛərz, ˈdaʊnˌstɛərz /

adverb

1. down the stairs.

2. to or on a lower floor.

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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 British  

/ ˈdaʊnˈstɛəz /

adverb

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

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noun

1. 1. a lower or ground floor

   2. ( as modifier )

      a downstairs room

2. informal the servants of a household collectively Compare upstairs

Etymology

Origin of downstairs

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

Explanation

Something that's downstairs is located below you, down at least one flight of stairs on a lower floor. Your downstairs bathroom is the one on the first floor of your house. If your baseball breaks a neighbor's downstairs window, it means you hit the ball low, and when your friend says you can stay in his downstairs bedroom, you'll be sleeping on the lowest floor of his house. Downstairs is also an adverb, so you can run downstairs or trip and fall downstairs. Occasionally people also use it as a noun: "The downstairs is a mess, but we painted all of the rooms upstairs."

Example Sentences

“He doesn’t go to the executive dining room, he just comes downstairs and has a cheeseburger with everyone,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The feeling of being transported by youthful energy motivates Shahniani every morning when he starts his day by playing Pinar Toprak’s uplifting Epcot theme on the speakers downstairs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

"We quickly gathered our things and ran downstairs, everything was on fire on our floor," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

"We ran downstairs to the basement... from the 10th floor... we were petrified," he told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

I throw on running clothes and head downstairs, where Mom’s doing today’s crossword puzzle at the kitchen table with a steaming mug of coffee next to her.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

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