up·stairs
ˌəp-ˈsterz 
1
: up the stairs : on or to a higher floor
2
: to or at a high altitude or higher position
kicked upstairs to company management
3
: in the head : intellectually
a little slow upstairs—
Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy
up·stairs
ˈəp-ˈsterz
: situated above the stairs especially on an upper floor
an upstairs bedroom
up·stairs
ˈəp-ˈsterz
ˈəp-ˌsterz
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: the part of a building above the ground floor
Examples of upstairs in a Sentence
Adverb
When you go upstairs, bring these towels with you.
She was on her way upstairs when she heard a car drive up.
Adjective
You can use the upstairs bathroom.
Recent Examples on the WebWendy Bowman, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2024
Interviews with the hosts and judges Afterwards, media got to stop into video village once more, then were brought upstairs to take turns interviewing Kish, and judges Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
Sting is also a mimic, able to copy Charlotte’s whistle, even though, as the slightly creepy would-be scientist living upstairs tells her, spiders don’t have vocal cords.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
The primary suite upstairs has dual dressing rooms and two bathrooms, its own washer and dryer, a steam shower and a terrace with views.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Harmon was upstairs, putting food in a squirrel feeder, while her children were in the backyard.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, there will be one upstairs and one downstairs escalator in the baggage claim area.
—James A. Jones Jr., Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
Orwell typed for hours upstairs, sitting on his iron bedstead in a tatty dressing gown, chain-smoking shag tobacco.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Ben Olsen, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024
It’s got a bit of Bridgerton, a bit of upstairs downstairs, a bit of Below Deck, and a bit of Vanderpump Rules, but then a huge amount of uniqueness.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Across from the entry lies a home office with a fireplace and an upstairs library.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
In 1929, maybe Cleveland and his mother watched excitedly as the Alhambra Ballroom opened its doors on 126th Street, with an upstairs stage that would be graced by Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith.
—Debra Kamin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
But nine months ago, our upstairs neighbors acquired an emotional support dog for their teenager.
—Jill Terreri Ramos, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The other four bedrooms, along with three bathrooms and a laundry closet, are upstairs.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024
Body camera footage released by the Richmond Police Department shows the officers entering the home and sweeping each room before entering an upstairs bedroom.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024
All five children were located in the same upstairs bedroom of the two-story duplex, according to fire officials.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2024
There’s a little fridge down there, so nobody has to go back [upstairs for drinks].
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
An expansive primary suite takes up the entire upstairs, decked out with its own office, a spa-like bathroom, and a massive walk-in closet.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2023
Off The Record, an upscale cocktail bar, will move in upstairs.
—Tirion Morris, The Arizona Republic, 30 Sep. 2021
My idea was to do a kind of upstairs/downstairs treatment — a photo from the ground complemented by one of the very same cloud from space.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2013
The 50 upstairs beds are in individual rooms while the new first-floor shelter is more like a dorm, with each of the 20 single beds separated by a small wooden wardrobe.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2023
An umami-rich aroma steaming from Swift's Attic is guaranteed to lure your group off the bustling Congress Ave and into the restaurant upstairs.
—Alexandra Toto, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2023
This discovery came after a witness saw Murdaugh carrying a blue tarp upstairs.
—Andrea Marks, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2023
Adverb
Two primary bedrooms can be found upstairs, both with en-suite bathrooms and one warmed by a fireplace tucked into the corner, and elsewhere is a large storage basement.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2024
Interviews with the hosts and judges Afterwards, media got to stop into video village once more, then were brought upstairs to take turns interviewing Kish, and judges Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
Sting is also a mimic, able to copy Charlotte’s whistle, even though, as the slightly creepy would-be scientist living upstairs tells her, spiders don’t have vocal cords.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
The primary suite upstairs has dual dressing rooms and two bathrooms, its own washer and dryer, a steam shower and a terrace with views.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Harmon was upstairs, putting food in a squirrel feeder, while her children were in the backyard.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, there will be one upstairs and one downstairs escalator in the baggage claim area.
—James A. Jones Jr., Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
Orwell typed for hours upstairs, sitting on his iron bedstead in a tatty dressing gown, chain-smoking shag tobacco.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
At street level, a welcoming cafe space hosts cultural events amid shelves of photobooks, while a dedicated upstairs gallery houses a progressive roster of contemporary photography exhibitions by an eclectic selection of international artists.
—Ben Olsen, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024
It’s got a bit of Bridgerton, a bit of upstairs downstairs, a bit of Below Deck, and a bit of Vanderpump Rules, but then a huge amount of uniqueness.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Across from the entry lies a home office with a fireplace and an upstairs library.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
In 1929, maybe Cleveland and his mother watched excitedly as the Alhambra Ballroom opened its doors on 126th Street, with an upstairs stage that would be graced by Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith.
—Debra Kamin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
But nine months ago, our upstairs neighbors acquired an emotional support dog for their teenager.
—Jill Terreri Ramos, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The other four bedrooms, along with three bathrooms and a laundry closet, are upstairs.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024
Body camera footage released by the Richmond Police Department shows the officers entering the home and sweeping each room before entering an upstairs bedroom.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024
All five children were located in the same upstairs bedroom of the two-story duplex, according to fire officials.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
Current designs for the expansion would make both City Hall and the library more accessible by connecting the two upstairs, placing public meetings and city clerk windows on the first floor of City Hall and upgrading the library with age- and ADA-friendly spaces, among other things.
—Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2024
There’s a little fridge down there, so nobody has to go back [upstairs for drinks].
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
An expansive primary suite takes up the entire upstairs, decked out with its own office, a spa-like bathroom, and a massive walk-in closet.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2023
Off The Record, an upscale cocktail bar, will move in upstairs.
—Tirion Morris, The Arizona Republic, 30 Sep. 2021
My idea was to do a kind of upstairs/downstairs treatment — a photo from the ground complemented by one of the very same cloud from space.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2013
The 50 upstairs beds are in individual rooms while the new first-floor shelter is more like a dorm, with each of the 20 single beds separated by a small wooden wardrobe.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2023
An umami-rich aroma steaming from Swift's Attic is guaranteed to lure your group off the bustling Congress Ave and into the restaurant upstairs.
—Alexandra Toto, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2023
This discovery came after a witness saw Murdaugh carrying a blue tarp upstairs.
—Andrea Marks, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'upstairs.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near upstairs
Cite this Entry
“Upstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstairs. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upstairs
1 of 3 adverb
up·stairs
ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz
-ˈste(ə)rz
1
: up the stairs : to or on a higher floor
2
: to or at a higher position or level
upstairs
2 of 3 adjective
up·stairs
ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz
-ˈste(ə)rz
: located on an upper floor
the upstairs bedroom
upstairs
3 of 3 noun
up·stairs
ˈəp-ˈsta(ə)rz
-ˈste(ə)rz
-ˈste(ə)rz
ˈəp-ˌsta(ə)rz,
-ˌste(ə)rz
: the part of a building above the ground floor
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