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.

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adjective

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

   an upstairs window;

   an upstairs apartment.

noun

plural

upstairs

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

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of upstairs

First recorded in 1590–1600; up- + stairs

Example Sentences

“For the record, neither of us live there anymore but they were our upstairs neighbors for 10 years!” she wrote.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Joel Smith KC, for the prosecution, said Djellal and Bouchadoe, were found inside the property, "one lying in the lounge across the patio threshold, one in an upstairs bedroom close to a window".

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

The informant excused himself to head upstairs to retrieve the money, a signal for Haitian police commandos to storm in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

But he chuckled when asked about the speakers upstairs, revealing that he was far too busy to get involved in the actual politics of CPAC.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

“I’ll be upstairs, in the adult-education study room. Keep your cell phone on, just in case, and stay inside the library, okay? Once you’ve picked out some books, come up and sit with me.”

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy