English Reference
adverb · adjective · noun

upstairs

adv. · adj. · n.
US /əpˈstɛɹz/ up·stairs

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    adv.to a higher floor of a building, or on a level above where you are now.

    adv.to or on a higher floor or level of a building; functions as an adverb of place.

    Simple

    I forgot my phone, so I have to run upstairs to get it.

    In context

    The children were playing loudly upstairs while the adults tried to have a quiet conversation in the dining room.

    Usage

    Typically follows the verb of motion or the verb 'to be'.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    adj.describes a room or area that is on a higher level of a house.

    adj.situated on an upper floor or level of a building.

    Simple

    The upstairs bathroom is being painted this week.

    In context

    The upstairs windows offer a much better view of the garden than the ones on the ground floor.

    Usage

    Always placed before the noun it modifies.

    uppertop floor
  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    n.the entire top part or upper floor of a building.

    n.the upper storey or level of a building considered as a single unit.

    Simple

    The whole upstairs was flooded after the pipe burst.

    In context

    The architect designed the upstairs to be an open-plan studio, maximizing the natural light from the skylights.

    upper floortop storey
  4. 04 C1 Advanced InformalHumorous

    adv.inside your head or your mind; often used to talk about how smart someone is.

    adv.referring to the brain, mind, or intellectual capacity.

    Simple

    He is a bit slow, but he has a lot going on upstairs.

    In context

    The professor might look disorganized, but she is incredibly sharp upstairs.

    Teacher's tip

    Often used in the phrase 'nothing upstairs' to suggest someone is not very intelligent.


From up- + stair + -s.

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

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated