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

“Neither one of us has been upstairs since before dinner.”

From Literature

Now, I often walk into my upstairs sewing room—my woman cave, far from Steve’s basement workshop—and get lost in it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even safely upstairs in the crowd, you want to hide under a table.

From The Wall Street Journal

It involved transferring a heavy iron bolt, concealed inside an oversize Bible, from Casanova to his upstairs neighbor, who could then chip a hole in the wooden floor.

From The Wall Street Journal

Moving upstairs, there is a large primary suite with enough room for a king-sized bed.

From MarketWatch