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 Web
Timia Cobb
breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
More family time can be spent upstairs on the observation deck, with a huge sunpad offering sweeping views of all below.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026
Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
Kotting, who is also trying to absorb higher Medicare premiums and grocery prices, was hoping to keep her natural gas bills down this winter by sealing two upstairs bedrooms and leaving them unheated.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The screaming was coming from upstairs, where Deanna Vaughn lived with her father, Richard.
—Veronica Ortega, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upstairs
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Adverb
Williams then went upstairs to confront Thomas.
—Timia Cobb
breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
More family time can be spent upstairs on the observation deck, with a huge sunpad offering sweeping views of all below.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Aljorna and Sosa-Celis retreated into their upstairs apartment and barricaded the door, so federal officers used tear gas to try to force the men out, the FBI agent said.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
Kotting, who is also trying to absorb higher Medicare premiums and grocery prices, was hoping to keep her natural gas bills down this winter by sealing two upstairs bedrooms and leaving them unheated.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
The screaming was coming from upstairs, where Deanna Vaughn lived with her father, Richard.
—Veronica Ortega, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upstairs
Cite this Entry
“Upstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstairs. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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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