Word
downstairs
Phoneticsdown·stairs, stress on the first syllable
/ˈdaʊnˈstɛɹz/
Adverb of place
Definitions
01towards a lower floor
A2 · Elementary
adv. to or on a lower floor of a building.
adv. to or on a lower floor of a building, typically the ground floor.
“I heard a strange noise, so I went downstairs to check the kitchen.”
“The children ran downstairs as soon as they smelled the aroma of fresh coffee and breakfast coming from the kitchen.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02located on a lower floor
A2 · Elementary
adj. describes something that is on a lower floor.
adj. located on a lower floor of a building; used attributively before a noun.
“The downstairs bathroom is much smaller than the one in our bedroom.”
“The downstairs windows were fitted with reinforced glass to provide extra security against potential intruders.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03the lower floor
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the entire lower floor or ground floor of a house.
n. the lower floor or floors of a building, especially a residential house.
“The whole downstairs was flooded after the pipe burst in the night.”
“The renovation focused entirely on the downstairs, transforming several small rooms into a single open-plan living space.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04genitalia
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Humorous · Slang · Informal
n. a polite or funny way to talk about a person's private parts.
n. a euphemistic reference to the human genitalia.
“He took a painful hit downstairs during the football match.”
“The comedian made several crude jokes about his 'downstairs' that left half the audience laughing and the other half embarrassed.”
Usage
Usually used with 'the' or a possessive pronoun like 'my' or 'his'.
Teaching tip
This is a common euphemism used to avoid medical or vulgar terms; it is informal and often intended to be funny.
Synonyms
Etymology
From down- + stair + -s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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