upstairs

[ uhp-stairz ]

adverb

1. up the stairs; to or on an upper floor.
2. Informal. in the mind:

   to be a little weak upstairs.

3. to or at a higher level of authority:

   You may have to take the matter upstairs.

4. Military Slang. at or to a higher level in the air.

adjective

1. Also upstair. of, relating to, or situated on an upper floor:

   an upstairs window;

   an upstairs apartment.

noun

, plural up·stairs.

1. (usually used with a singular verb) an upper story or stories; the part of a building or house that is above the ground floor:

   The upstairs of this house is entirely rented.

2. a higher command or level of authority:

   We can't take action till we have approval from upstairs.

upstairs

/ ˈʌpˈstɛəz /

adverb

1. up the stairs; to or on an upper floor or level
2. informal.
   to or into a higher rank or office
3. informal.
   in the mind

   a little weak upstairs

4. kick upstairs informal.
   to promote to a higher rank or position, esp one that carries less power

noun

1. 1. an upper floor or level
   2. ( as modifier )

      an upstairs room

2. informal.
   the masters and mistresses of a household collectively, esp of a large house Compare downstairs

Word History and Origins

Origin of upstairs¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; up- + stairs

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. kick upstairs, to promote (a person) to a higher position, usually having less authority, in order to be rid of them.

More idioms and phrases containing upstairs

see kick upstairs .

Example Sentences

On the night Al Capone died, she remembers her mother leading her upstairs to his room and her father lifting her onto the bed.

From Washington Post

My main focus is to balance and step IN BETWEEN lines, never on one … Of course going downstairs you step in between every line but upstairs you skip every other bar.

From MIT Technology Review

This allowed for two bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom where only short people could stand up to take care of business.

From Washington Blade

A cordless vacuum cleaner lets you clean around furniture and move upstairs without tripping over a cord.

From Popular-Science

I found the mode especially useful at times when I suspected my wife was about to call me upstairs to hold the baby.

From Popular-Science

Upstairs, in the living room, splintered logs of hemlock cackled and spat from inside the wood stove.

From The Daily Beast

A man who lived upstairs opened his door and witnessed the attack.

From The Daily Beast

He was taken back to the cell upstairs, where his time in detention would span 20 days.

From The Daily Beast

He was told to address the management upstairs with that question.

From The Daily Beast

I went upstairs and stared out the window for a little while.

From The Daily Beast

The governor went upstairs and found Juan de Messa in the hall.

From Project Gutenberg

The Professor put down his cards without a word, and left the room, going straight upstairs.

From Project Gutenberg

When he was gone, Isaacson returned to his sitting-room upstairs and lit a nargeeleh pipe.

From Project Gutenberg

Having reduced Punch to a second agony of tears Harry departed upstairs with the news that Punch was still rebellious.

From Project Gutenberg

"Give us a table upstairs alone," said Nigel to the head-steward, putting something into his hand.

From Project Gutenberg