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

The day I visited, Morry took me upstairs to his office to show me his lab notebook from that night.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The grandmother, who has stubbornly remained in her room upstairs, finally makes her grand entrance.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 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

He would never get these stupid things upstairs with Grief around.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville