English Reference
adverb · adjective · noun

downstairs

adv. · adj. · n.
US /ˈdaʊnˈstɛɹz/ down·stairs

  1. 01 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.

    Simple

    I heard a strange noise, so I went downstairs to check the kitchen.

    In context

    The children ran downstairs as soon as they smelled the aroma of fresh coffee and breakfast coming from the kitchen.

  2. 02 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.

    Simple

    The downstairs bathroom is much smaller than the one in our bedroom.

    In context

    The downstairs windows were fitted with reinforced glass to provide extra security against potential intruders.

    lower level
  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    n.the entire lower floor or ground floor of a house.

    n.the lower floor or floors of a building, especially a residential house.

    Simple

    The whole downstairs was flooded after the pipe burst in the night.

    In context

    The renovation focused entirely on the downstairs, transforming several small rooms into a single open-plan living space.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced HumorousSlangInformal

    n.a polite or funny way to talk about a person's private parts.

    n.a euphemistic reference to the human genitalia.

    Simple

    He took a painful hit downstairs during the football match.

    In context

    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'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a common euphemism used to avoid medical or vulgar terms; it is informal and often intended to be funny.

    private parts

From down- + stair + -s.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated