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

This was back in 1995, when we lived on 58th Place, in the upstairs unit of an ash-white triplex in Ladera Heights, many miles south of the glamour and stock beauty of Hollywood Boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times

Yes, it will be different politics upstairs now, but the people are the decision-makers who create the present and build the future.

From Los Angeles Times

She perused grotesque album covers while I investigated the indie art studios upstairs.

From Los Angeles Times

As the preliminaries drew to a close, Mike’s friends gradually started coming upstairs to join him.

From Slate

It's decided to bid the countess, if she's there, farewell and investigate a small upstairs attic on the other side of the hall.

From BBC