upstairs
gb/ʌpstˈɛɹz/ us/ʌpstˈɛɹz/
A1
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A1
relation
1
On or to an upper floor
On or moving to a higher floor in a building.
Usage pattern:
to go upstairs
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'upstairs' with 'above', but 'upstairs' is used for floors inside buildings, not general vertical position.
Synonyms
above (Refers more generally to a higher position, not specifically floors in a building.)
Antonyms
downstairs (Refers to a lower floor of a building.)
Collocations
go upstairs
|live upstairs
|walk upstairs
|move upstairs
Themes
daily life
|housing
|space
Examples
- She ran upstairs to answer the phone.
- I left my bag upstairs in the bedroom.
- The children are playing upstairs.
Learner examples
- My room is upstairs.
- He goes upstairs after dinner.
- She works upstairs in the office.
adjective
A2
property
2
Located on an upper floor
On a higher floor of a building.
Synonyms
upper-floor (More formal or descriptive; specifies floors without directional movement.)
Antonyms
downstairs (Located on a lower floor.)
Collocations
upstairs neighbors
|upstairs apartment
|upstairs rooms
Themes
daily life
|housing
|space
Examples
- Our upstairs neighbors are very quiet.
- The upstairs bathroom needs cleaning.
- They moved into the upstairs apartment last month.
Learner examples
- The upstairs room is big.
- I have an upstairs bedroom.
- The upstairs office is warm.
adverb
informal
B2
state
3
In the mind or brain
Talking about how someone thinks or their brain, often as a joke.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is informal and can sound rude if used carelessly.
Synonyms
mentally (Focuses on the mind in a neutral way; 'upstairs' is more informal and humorous.)
Antonyms
mindless (Suggests lack of thought or intelligence.)
Collocations
not all there upstairs
Themes
emotions
|personality
|health
Examples
- He's not all there upstairs, if you know what I mean.
- Something's not quite right upstairs with him lately.
- She's quick upstairs and always solves problems fast.
Learner examples
- He is smart upstairs.
- I am slow upstairs today.
- She is very quick upstairs.
Grammar
Dictionary form
upstairs
IPA
GB/ʌpstˈɛɹz/
US/ʌpstˈɛɹz/
Syllables & stress
up - stairs (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (stairs)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: upstairs
Word family
Negative and opposite forms
downstairs
adverb A1
Expressions
go upstairs
1/ɡˈoʊ ʌpstˈɛɹz/
fixed phrase
Move to an upper floor
To walk or go up to a higher floor in a building.
Examples
- Please go upstairs and get my jacket.
- He went upstairs to take a nap.
not all there upstairs
1/nˈɑt ˈɔl ðˈɛɹ ʌpstˈɛɹz/
idiom
informal
Lacking full mental capacity
A humorous or rude way to say someone is not thinking clearly or is strange.
Examples
- I think he's not all there upstairs after that long trip.
- She's nice, but sometimes she's not all there upstairs.
upstairs neighbor
1/ʌpstˈɛɹz nˈeɪbɚ/
fixed phrase
Person living on the floor above you
A person who lives in the apartment or room above yours.
Examples
- Our upstairs neighbor plays the piano every evening.
- The upstairs neighbor complained about the noise.