# upstairs

/əpˈstɛɹz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/upstairs
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to or on a higher floor

adverb · CEFR A2

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

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

- I forgot my phone, so I have to run upstairs to get it.
- 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. located on a higher floor

adjective · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: situated on an upper floor or level of a building.

- The upstairs bathroom is being painted this week.
- 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.

### 3. the upper floor

noun · CEFR B1

the entire top part or upper floor of a building.

For teachers: the upper storey or level of a building considered as a single unit.

- The whole upstairs was flooded after the pipe burst.
- The architect designed the upstairs to be an open-plan studio, maximizing the natural light from the skylights.

### 4. in the mind

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Humorous

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

For teachers: referring to the brain, mind, or intellectual capacity.

- He is a bit slow, but he has a lot going on upstairs.
- The professor might look disorganized, but she is incredibly sharp upstairs.

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

## Examples

- I am going upstairs to get my coat.
- The children are playing quietly upstairs while the adults finish their dinner in the kitchen.
- Although the ground floor remains relatively cool during the summer months, the heat tends to accumulate upstairs, making the bedrooms uncomfortable without proper ventilation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.