Downstairs
/ˌdaʊnˈsteərz/
Definitions
2 meaningsOn or to a floor below.
/ˌdaʊnˈsteərz/
To or on a lower floor of a building.
The children are playing downstairs.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a house with two floors. 'Downstairs' means going to the floor that's below you. Like, if you're in your bedroom and your mom is cooking dinner, you'd go downstairs to eat!
👶 For kids: Going to the floor below where you are.
More Examples
I heard a noise downstairs.
Please come downstairs when dinner is ready.
How It's Used
"The party is downstairs."
"Could you please go downstairs and get my book?"
Situated on a lower floor.
/ˌdaʊnˈsteərz/
Located on a lower floor.
The downstairs rooms are cooler in the summer.
💡 Simply: If something is 'downstairs,' it's located on the bottom floor of a building. So, if the living room is on the downstairs floor, that means it's below the other rooms.
👶 For kids: Something that is on the bottom floor of a house.
More Examples
There's a downstairs office in the house.
The downstairs bedroom offers a view of the garden.
How It's Used
"The downstairs apartment has a separate entrance."
"We have a downstairs bathroom and a master bath."
Idioms & expressions
downstairs neighbor
Someone who lives in the apartment below you.
"The downstairs neighbor complained about the noise."
From 'down' + 'stairs'. Reflects movement or location relative to the stairs, typically toward a lower level.
Historically, the term has been used since the late 14th century to denote a direction towards a lower level of a structure.
Memory tip
Think of descending the stairs to go downstairs.