upstairs
uhp-STEH-uhz
Upstairs (adv) means to or on a higher floor of a building. Example: “Could you carry these boxes upstairs while I put the kettle on?”
adv
1
To or on a higher floor of a building.
"Could you carry these boxes upstairs while I put the kettle on?"
"The neighbours who live upstairs are moving out at the weekend."
"She went upstairs to get ready for bed."
adj
1
Located on a higher floor.
"We rent out the upstairs flat to a student."
"There is an upstairs window that never closes properly."
"The upstairs bathroom needs new tiles."
noun
1
The upper floor or floors of a building.
"The upstairs of the cottage has two small bedrooms and a bathroom."
"We painted the whole upstairs in a pale yellow last summer."
"The upstairs was quiet once the kids fell asleep."
How to use upstairs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOn, to, or relating to an upper floor of a building.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
go upstairs
upstairs bedroom
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Word forms
- Comparative
- further upstairs, farther upstairs
- Superlative
- furthest upstairs, farthest upstairs
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Could you carry these boxes _____ while I put the kettle on?
Etymology
From up- + stair + -s.
Synonyms
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upper floor
upstair
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for upstairs
See all rhymes for upstairs →Frequently asked questions
What does “upstairs” mean?
The word “upstairs” means to or on a higher floor of a building. In plain terms, on, to, or relating to an upper floor of a building.
How do you pronounce “upstairs”?
“Upstairs” is pronounced uhp-STEH-uhz (/ˌʌpˈstɛɹz/ in IPA).
How do you use “upstairs” in a sentence?
Here is “upstairs” used in a sentence: “She went upstairs to get ready for bed.”
What is the opposite of “upstairs”?
The opposite of “upstairs” — its antonyms — is downstairs.
What part of speech is “upstairs”?
Depending on how it is used, “upstairs” can be an adverb, an adjective and a noun.
Is “upstairs” a common word?
“Upstairs” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “upstairs” have?
“Upstairs” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to or on a higher floor of a building.
What is the difference between "upstairs" and "downstairs"?
"Upstairs" refers to or is located on a higher floor of a building, while "downstairs" refers to a lower floor. If you go upstairs you move up to a higher level, and if you go downstairs you move down to a lower one.
Do you say "go upstairs" or "go up the stairs"?
"Go upstairs" means to move to a higher floor and treats "upstairs" as a single adverb, while "go up the stairs" refers specifically to climbing the staircase itself. You can go up the stairs to get upstairs, but you might also reach upstairs by lift.
Should you write "upstairs" or "up stairs"?
The standard modern spelling is one word, "upstairs," whether used as an adverb, adjective, or noun. The two-word form "up stairs" is archaic and is not used in current English.
Can "upstairs" be used as a noun?
Yes, "upstairs" can act as a noun meaning the upper floor or floors of a building, as in "the upstairs needs repainting." In this use it usually takes "the" before it.
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