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

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

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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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• upstairs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of upstairs

First recorded in 1590–1600; up- + stairs

Example Sentences

Her daughter, who is three-and-a-half years old, has begun to notice that the relatives upstairs do not greet her mother.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026

Around 2011, Michael Fallas, who once worked in family’s downtown store as a stock boy, converted the upstairs floors from offices to apartments while continuing to operate Fallas Paredes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

"It was panic really, I ran upstairs to my husband's office and showed him the article," one mother said.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

“Unfortunately they do have to walk past all the TVs to get upstairs to the rooftop, so I will get caught in my lie immediately,” Terranova said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Augustus remembered, “Every room, upstairs and down, was full; people were sitting on the very stairs …” The sisters were much too busy to see visiting guests without a prior reservation.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock