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.

---

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of upstairs

First recorded in 1590–1600; up- + stairs

Example Sentences

“To go to the source script has been very interesting, because while there are references to bedrooms and the boys being upstairs, Miller doesn’t describe a naturalistic setting,” Mantello said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 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

He was invited inside and taken upstairs to a bedroom.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“For the record, neither of us live there anymore but they were our upstairs neighbors for 10 years!” she wrote.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Despite their complaints, the twins are now transfixed by the ice cutters singing on the TV, so I tiptoe upstairs.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller