down·stairs
ˈdau̇n-ˌsterz 
: situated on the main, lower, or ground floor of a building
down·stairs
ˈdau̇n-ˈsterz
ˈdau̇n-ˌsterz
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: the lower floor of a building
Examples of downstairs in a Sentence
Adverb
He ran downstairs to answer the door.
He lives downstairs from us.
“Where are the kids?” “They're downstairs.”
Adjective
There are five downstairs rooms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Anthropic’s lunchroom, downstairs, was where Claude banged its head against walls in real life.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Lars Brandle, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
The main entrance is on the street level, while the check-in desk is downstairs.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2026
In that way, Bridgerton has been different from other upstairs-downstairs shows like Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age, which have worked in political and social storylines about Irish independence, American spiritualism, and new versus old money.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downstairs
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Adverb
White was reportedly hosting a private party downstairs at the club when rapper Lil Baby’s entourage tried to enter the party from the main floor upstairs, the publication said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Anthropic’s lunchroom, downstairs, was where Claude banged its head against walls in real life.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Longtime collaborator Alex Lockett returns to direct the clip, an upstairs/downstairs concept which follows Antonoff on struggle street, stumbling into randoms and flapping about in the rain.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
The main entrance is on the street level, while the check-in desk is downstairs.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
An upstairs laundry saves a hike downstairs, where a rec room, wet bar, exercise room and more guest quarters await.
—Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2026
In that way, Bridgerton has been different from other upstairs-downstairs shows like Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age, which have worked in political and social storylines about Irish independence, American spiritualism, and new versus old money.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downstairs
Cite this Entry
“Downstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downstairs. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
downstairs
1 of 3 adverb
down·stairs
ˈdau̇n-ˈsta(ə)rz
-ˈste(ə)rz
: down the stairs : on or to a lower floor
downstairs
2 of 3 adjective
down·stairs
-ˌsta(ə)rz
-ˌste(ə)rz
: situated on a lower level or on the main or first floor
downstairs
3 of 3 singular or plural noun
down·stairs
ˈdau̇n-ˈsta(ə)rz
-ˈste(ə)rz,
-ˌsta(ə)rz,
-ˌste(ə)rz
: the lower floor of a building
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