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

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Etymology

Origin of upstairs

First recorded in 1590–1600; up- + stairs

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upstairs

She envisioned that upstairs space as a playroom for the children, but an antique pool table from her father took up much of the available area.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026

But the upstairs neighbors in our Boston triple-decker were screamers.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026

There’s more power upstairs than most American buyers will dare sample.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

“Many of you would carry groceries upstairs for your mom for free, but in California, they will pay you a lot of money for it,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

Leaving his father, he went upstairs to look at the ball.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

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