Upstairs: meaning, definitions and examples

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upstairs

 

[ หŒสŒpหˆstษ›rz ]

Adverb / Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adverb

location

At or to a higher floor or level in a building.

Synonyms

on the floor above, up, up the stairs.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
upstairs

Commonly used in casual conversation to refer to rooms or areas on the next floor above. It gives a sense of familiarity.

  • I'll be upstairs if you need me.
  • The party is in the room upstairs.
up

Often used in a casual or informal way, especially in tight or quick conversations. It implies moving to a higher level without specifying the exact area.

  • Just go up and you'll find the room.
  • She ran up to the second floor.
on the floor above

Used in more formal or descriptive contexts. Itโ€™s often used when giving directions or explanations in a detailed manner.

  • The administrative offices are located on the floor above.
  • You will find the library on the floor above.
up the stairs

Typically used for giving directions or describing movement involving stairs. It emphasizes the act of climbing the stairs.

  • Take your luggage up the stairs.
  • The bedrooms are up the stairs on the right.

Examples of usage

  • She went upstairs to check on the children.
  • The bedrooms are all upstairs.
Context #2 | Adjective

position

Situated above ground level in a building.

Synonyms

higher up, top floor, upper level.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
upstairs

Commonly used in homes or smaller buildings to refer to an area on a higher floor. It is more informal and conversational.

  • Kids are playing upstairs
  • She went upstairs to her room
upper level

Used to refer generally to a higher floor within a building, usually in more formal or architectural contexts.

  • The restaurant has a seating area on the upper level
  • The upper level houses the museum's main exhibits
top floor

Used to specify the highest level of a building, typically in formal or descriptive contexts, like describing apartment locations or office buildings.

  • Their office is on the top floor of the skyscraper
  • The luxury penthouse is on the top floor
higher up

Used in both casual and formal settings to describe a location at a greater height within a building, also can refer to a higher position in hierarchy.

  • The storage room is higher up in the building
  • He spoke to someone higher up about the issue

Examples of usage

  • The upstairs bathroom needs to be renovated.
  • The upstairs apartment has a nice view.

Translations

Translations of the word "upstairs" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น andar de cima

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคŠเคชเคฐ เค•เฅ€ เคฎเค‚เคœเคฟเคฒ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช oben

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ lantai atas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะฐะณะพั€ั–

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ na gรณrze

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้šŽไธŠ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท ร  l'รฉtage

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ arriba

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท รผst katta

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์œ„์ธต์—

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ููŠ ุงู„ุทุงุจู‚ ุงู„ุนู„ูˆูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ nahoล™e

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ hore

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆฅผไธŠ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zgoraj

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ uppi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะพา“ะฐั€ั‹ะดะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ–แƒ”แƒ›แƒแƒ—

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ yuxarฤฑda

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ arriba

Etymology

The word 'upstairs' originated from the Middle English word 'upsteres' which combines 'up' with 'steres' meaning 'stair'. The concept of upper levels in buildings has been around for centuries, with multi-story structures becoming more common in the Middle Ages. As architecture evolved, the term 'upstairs' became widely used to refer to higher floors in a building.

See also: stair, staircase, stairs, stairway.