up the stairs

Meaning

This is a common spatial and directional phrase used to describe moving to a higher level of a building or indicating that something is located on an upper floor. It can function as an adverbial phrase of direction (moving up) or location (situated above).

Examples

• She ran up the stairs to grab her coat before leaving the house.

  She ran up the stairs to grab her coat before leaving the house.

• The restroom is just up the stairs and to your left.

  The restroom is just up the stairs and to your left.

• He carried the heavy suitcase all the way up the stairs to his apartment.

  He carried the heavy suitcase all the way up the stairs to his apartment.

• My bedroom is located up the stairs, at the end of the hallway.

  My bedroom is located up the stairs, at the end of the hallway.

• The children slowly walked up the stairs when it was time for bed.

  The children slowly walked up the stairs when it was time for bed.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He went up the stair to his room.

  ✓ He went up the stairs to his room.

  'Stairs' is almost always pluralized in this context to refer to a flight of steps. Using the singular 'stair' refers only to a single individual step.

• ✗ The office is up stairs.

  ✓ The office is upstairs.

  Do not confuse the prepositional phrase 'up the stairs' with the single-word adverb 'upstairs'. 'Upstairs' does not take an article.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you walk ___, you will find the manager's office on the second floor.

  💡 Moving to a higher level using the steps.

  Show answer

  up the stairs

• I heard someone walking ___ in the middle of the night.

  💡 Climbing the steps.

  Show answer

  up the stairs