downstairs
down-STEH-uhz
Downstairs (adverb) means On or to a lower floor of a building. Example: “She went downstairs to answer the door.”
adverb
1
On or to a lower floor of a building.
"She went downstairs to answer the door."
"The children ran downstairs as soon as they smelled breakfast."
"Could you carry these boxes downstairs for me, please?"
adjective
1
Located on a lower floor.
"The downstairs bathroom needs fixing."
"We rent out the downstairs flat to a quiet student."
"There is a small downstairs toilet next to the kitchen."
noun
1
The lower floor or floors of a house.
"They renovated the whole downstairs last year."
How to use downstairs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOn, to, or of the lower floor of a building.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
go downstairs
downstairs bathroom
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Word forms
- Comparative
- further downstairs, farther downstairs
- Superlative
- furthest downstairs, farthest downstairs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She went _____ to answer the door.
Etymology
From down- plus stairs.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for downstairs
See all rhymes for downstairs →Frequently asked questions
What does “downstairs” mean?
The word “downstairs” means on or to a lower floor of a building. In plain terms, on, to, or of the lower floor of a building.
How do you pronounce “downstairs”?
“Downstairs” is pronounced down-STEH-uhz (/daʊnˈstɛɹz/ in IPA).
How do you use “downstairs” in a sentence?
Here is “downstairs” used in a sentence: “She went downstairs to answer the door.”
What is the opposite of “downstairs”?
The opposite of “downstairs” — its antonyms — is upstairs.
What part of speech is “downstairs”?
Depending on how it is used, “downstairs” can be an adverb, an adjective and a noun.
Is “downstairs” a common word?
“Downstairs” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “downstairs” have?
“Downstairs” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: on or to a lower floor of a building.
What is the difference between downstairs and upstairs?
Downstairs refers to a lower floor of a building, while upstairs refers to a higher floor. Both words can function as adverbs, adjectives, or nouns depending on the sentence.
Is downstairs one word or two words?
Downstairs is written as a single word in standard English, whether it is used as an adverb ("go downstairs"), an adjective ("the downstairs bathroom"), or a noun ("the downstairs was flooded").
Can downstairs be used as a noun?
Yes. As a noun, downstairs refers to the lower floor or floors of a house, as in "the downstairs needs painting." This usage typically takes a singular verb.
