What does upstairs mean?
Upstairs describes movement toward, location on, or the upper part of a building or structure above the ground floor. As an adverb, it can indicate direction, as in “go upstairs,” or position, as in “the children are upstairs.” As an adjective, it describes something situated on an upper floor, such as an upstairs bedroom or flat. “The upstairs” can function as a noun referring to the upper floor or upper section of a building. The word is also used informally in North America in the expression “upstairs of,” meaning above or beyond a place. Although upstairs is closely associated with domestic architecture, it can describe any higher level, including an upper gallery or the top floor of an office building. Its transparent formation from “up” and “stairs” makes its meaning immediately recognizable, while the persistent plural “stairs” preserves an older stage of the language.
To or toward a higher floor, especially the floor above the ground floor.
"We went upstairs to watch the sunset from the roof."
Can also indicate that someone or something is on an upper floor.
Situated on or above the ground floor.
"They live in a spacious upstairs flat."
Common before nouns such as “room,” “flat,” and “bedroom.”
The floor or upper part of a building, especially when referred to as “the upstairs.”
"The whole upstairs was painted white."
The plural “upstairses” is possible but uncommon.
Above or beyond something in position.
"The café is upstairs of the bookshop."
Chiefly informal North American usage, normally appearing in the phrase “upstairs of.”
A rare plural used when referring to separate upper floors or upper sections.
"The building has two upstairses for offices."
Even when it refers to a single floor, “upstairs” keeps the plural “stairs”—a small but revealing piece of linguistic conservatism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does upstairs come from?
Upstairs is an English compound formed from “up” and “stairs.” It is recorded from the late sixteenth century, initially in the hyphenated form “up-stairs,” with the modern unhyphenated spelling becoming established later. Its “stairs” element belongs to the English word family that also includes stairway, staircase, and stairwell.
How upstairs is actually used
Upstairs is neutral in register and common in everyday speech. In the phrase “upstairs of,” it is chiefly an informal North American alternative to “above” or “beyond.”