upstairs

American  

[uhp-stairz] / ˈʌpˈstɛərz /

especially British, above stairs

adverb

1. up the stairs; to or on an upper floor.

2. Informal. in the mind.

   to be a little weak upstairs.

3. to or at a higher level of authority.

   You may have to take the matter upstairs.

4. Military Slang. at or to a higher level in the air.

---

adjective

1. Also upstair of, relating to, or situated on an upper floor.

   an upstairs window;

   an upstairs apartment.

noun

upstairs plural

1. (usually used with a singular verb) an upper story or stories; the part of a building or house that is above the ground floor.

   The upstairs of this house is entirely rented.

2. a higher command or level of authority.

   We can't take action till we have approval from upstairs.

idioms

1. kick upstairs, to promote (a person) to a higher position, usually having less authority, in order to be rid of them.

upstairs British  

/ ˈʌpˈstɛəz /

adverb

1. up the stairs; to or on an upper floor or level

2. informal to or into a higher rank or office

3. informal in the mind

   a little weak upstairs

4. informal to promote to a higher rank or position, esp one that carries less power

---

noun

1. 1. an upper floor or level

   2. ( as modifier )

      an upstairs room

2. informal the masters and mistresses of a household collectively, esp of a large house Compare downstairs

upstairs More Idioms  

1. see kick upstairs.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• upstairs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of upstairs

First recorded in 1590–1600; up- + stairs

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upstairs

The property includes a stable with 35-foot ceilings, eight stalls, and an upstairs grooms’ quarters.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

When a man from the commissary ran in with an order to evacuate the building, Blaschum went upstairs to find her flying partners.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

Lorne goes upstairs and becomes a completely different figure.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

Picture a black-and-white shot of a wintry mansion where a Minion lies dying in an upstairs bedroom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

I started crying again, and when I got inside I rushed to the upstairs bathroom, where I got sick.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott