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

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

They stock up on groceries at the Carrefour supermarket in the shopping mall just upstairs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

Williams, 44, lived in a ground-floor flat, and Andrew, 42, was his upstairs neighbour - they were old schoolmates with no history of tension.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

After her building sprung a leak she made friends with her upstairs neighbour while trying to find the source.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

A pull of the cord sends the large box swiftly from the upstairs straight down to the belly of the kitchen.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin