upstairs vs downstairs

Definitions

noun

1. the part of a building above the ground floor

adjective

1. on or of upper floors of a building

adverb

1. on a floor above
2. with respect to the mind

Examples

Upstairs were the bedrooms; “mother-and-father’s room” the largest; a smaller room for one or two sons, another for one or two daughters; each of these rooms containing a double bed, a “washstand, ” a “bureau, ” a wardrobe, a little table, a rocking-chair, and often a chair or two that had been slightly damaged downstairs, but not enough to justify either the expense of repair or decisive abandonment in the attic.

The mobs of drunken men are whooping it up upstairs.

Basically, when I finally do repaper, it will involve painting and re-doing the entire upstairs of the house, and I will lose a whole summer of writing time.

View all examples

Definitions

adjective

1. on or of lower floors of a building

adverb

1. on a floor below

Examples

Upstairs were the bedrooms; “mother-and-father’s room” the largest; a smaller room for one or two sons, another for one or two daughters; each of these rooms containing a double bed, a “washstand, ” a “bureau, ” a wardrobe, a little table, a rocking-chair, and often a chair or two that had been slightly damaged downstairs, but not enough to justify either the expense of repair or decisive abandonment in the attic.

From downstairs, I heard the clack of the front door.

Carlotta put the salve on Pierce's wounds, before joining her brother downstairs in the parlor.

View all examples