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

Screams echo from the upstairs bedrooms, where two husbands are in exile, watching a Green Bay Packers game with a newborn baby.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

He saw a split later during his time as a medical student at Columbia—some patients upstairs being entertained by a pianist, others in the basement treated as a “burden on the hospital.”

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

In Wiles’ case, she wrote: “Told them my upstairs neighbor was a celebrity,” while posting an image of herself posing in her kitchen.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

While tinkering in his basement laboratory, he used it regularly to communicate with his invalid wife, who was confined to her bedroom upstairs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

I drag myself upstairs, put out the sleeping mat, find my pillow, and pull the blanket over my head.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko