Downstairs vs. Down — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 9, 2024
"Downstairs" refers to a lower floor or level of a building, implying a specific location, whereas "down" is a general direction or movement towards a lower position or place.
Difference Between Downstairs and Down
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Key Differences
"Downstairs" specifically denotes the lower level of a structure, often used in contrast to "upstairs." It implies a destination within a building, such as moving from the second floor to the first. On the other hand, "down" is a broader term indicating direction or movement towards the earth's surface or a lower point, not confined to the context of a building.
When someone says they are going "downstairs," it indicates they are moving to a lower floor within the same building. This term is spatially specific, suggesting a movement within a multi-level structure. Whereas, saying they are going "down" could mean anything from walking down a hill to moving something to a lower shelf, showcasing its versatile application in indicating downward movement or direction.
"Downstairs" is also used to describe objects or activities located on a lower floor, such as "the downstairs bathroom" or "downstairs dining." This locational specificity helps in navigating or describing settings within buildings. "Down," however, can describe any lower position or status, such as "down in the valley" or "feeling down," illustrating its wide range of use from physical direction to metaphorical states.
In architectural and real estate contexts, "downstairs" clearly differentiates a specific area of a building, essential for layout planning, accessibility discussions, and property descriptions. "Down" lacks this architectural specificity, but is crucial in descriptions of movement, positions, and comparative statuses across various contexts, not limited to buildings.
The distinction between "downstairs" and "down" also reflects in navigation and instructions. Telling someone to go "downstairs" provides clear, contextual information within buildings, while "down" requires additional context to be understood, such as "down the street" or "down to the basement," underscoring its general use.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Refers to a lower level within a building
A direction towards a lower position or place
Contextual Use
Specific to buildings or structures with multiple levels
Broad use in various contexts for indicating lower position or direction
Navigation
Indicates movement to a lower floor within the same building
Indicates general downward movement or direction
Spatial Specificity
High, relates to a specific location within a structure
Low, can refer to any downward movement or location
Application
Used to describe locations or directions within buildings
Used in diverse scenarios, from physical direction to metaphorical states
Compare with Definitions
Downstairs
Towards or in the lower part of a building.
He headed downstairs after hearing the doorbell.
Down
Towards or at a lower level or position.
The ball rolled down the hill.
Downstairs
Activity or object located on the ground or lower floor.
We have a downstairs bathroom for guests.
Down
To a reduced state or condition.
Sales are down this quarter.
Downstairs
The lower level of a house as a designated area.
Their playroom is downstairs in the basement.
Down
Expressing movement towards a lower place or position.
She looked down to avoid his gaze.
Downstairs
Pertaining to or located on the lower floor of a building.
The library is downstairs, next to the kitchen.
Down
In a direction opposite to the source of a river or stream.
They sailed down the river.
Downstairs
Used to differentiate between two levels of indoor space.
The party moved downstairs as the night progressed.
Down
Lower on a list or hierarchy.
Look down the list to find your name.
Downstairs
Down the stairs
Raced my friend downstairs.
Down
From a higher to a lower place or position
Hiked down from the peak.
Downstairs
To or on a lower floor
Waited downstairs while her parents were getting dressed.
Down
Toward, to, or on the ground, floor, or bottom
Tripped and fell down.
Downstairs
The lower or main floor.
Down
Downstairs
Let's go down and get some breakfast.
Downstairs
Located on a lower or main floor.
Down
In or into a sitting, kneeling, or reclining position
Knelt down.
Lying down.
Downstairs
A floor lower than the current one.
Down
In or into one's stomach
Had trouble keeping his food down.
Washed down the pizza with soda.
Downstairs
Living, stepping, or coming down the stairs
Down
In writing or a record
The reporter wrote the statement down. He's down as the best goal-scorer of his time.
Downstairs
The lower floor of a house, at ground level.
Down
In partial payment at the time of purchase
Put $250 down on the new refrigerator.
Downstairs
The genitalia.
The wind lifted up her skirt and I caught a glimpse of her downstairs.
Down
Into or toward a secure position
Nailed down the boards.
Bolted the furniture down.
Downstairs
Down the stairs; to a lower floor; as, she headed downstairs as soon as she heard the horn.
Down
Toward or in the south; southward
Flew down to Florida.
Downstairs
On or of lower floors of a building;
The downstairs (or downstair) phone
Down
Away from a place considered central or a center of activity, such as a city or town
Down on the farm.
Sent down to work at the firm's regional office.
Downstairs
On a floor below;
The tenants live downstairs
Down
To a specific location or source
Tracking a rumor down.
Down
Toward or at a low or lower point on a scale
From the biggest down to the smallest.
Down
From earlier times or people
Tradition handed down from one generation to the next.
Down
To or at a lower intensity or amount
Turned the volume down.
Prices going down.
Down
To or in a reduced or concentrated form
Pared the term paper down to five pages.
Down
To or in a quiescent or subdued state
Calmed down.
Down
In or into an inactive or inoperative state
The generators went down at midnight.
Down
To or into a lower or inferior condition, as of subjection, defeat, or disgrace
People kept down for decades.
Down
To an extreme degree; heavily
Worn down by worry.
Down
Seriously or vigorously
Get down to the project at hand.
Down
Moving or directed downward
A down elevator.
Down
Low or lower
Stock prices were down today.
Down
Reduced; diminished
The wind is down.
Down
Sports & Games Trailing an opponent
A team down 20 points in the last quarter.
Down two pawns in chess.
Down
Afflicted; sick
She's down with a bad cold.
Down
Malfunctioning or not operating, especially temporarily
The computer is down.
Down
Low in spirits; depressed
Feeling down today.
Down
Not in play and at the place where offensive forward progress has stopped
The ball is down on the 50-yard line.
Down
Not permitted to advance further in the play because forward progress has stopped, especially by being tackled. Used of a ball carrier.
Down
(Baseball) Retired; out
Two down in the last of the ninth.
Down
Completed; done
Three exams down, two to go.
Down
Learned or known perfectly
Had the algebra problems down.
Down
In a descending direction along, upon, into, or through
Rolled down the hill.
Floating down the river.
Flowed down the pipe.
Down
In a sequential or temporal sequence
Knowledge passed down the ages.
Down
Along the course of
Walking down the street.
Down
In or at
The cans are stored down cellar.
Down
A downward movement; descent
The downs of the rollercoaster ride.
Down
A feeling of sadness or depression
His frequent downs made him hard to live with.
Down
A misfortune or difficulty
Went through a lot of ups and downs before succeeding.
Down
(Football) Any of a series of four plays in American football or three plays in Canadian football during which a team must advance at least ten yards to retain possession of the ball.
Down
(Botany) A covering of soft, short hairs, as on some leaves or fruit.
Down
A soft, silky, or feathery substance, such as the first growth of a human beard.
Down
Often downs An expanse of rolling upland, often treeless, grassy, and used for grazing.
Down
Often Down Any of several breeds of sheep having short wool, originally bred in the Downs of southern England.
Down
To bring, put, strike, or throw down
Downed his opponent in the first round.
Down
To swallow hastily; gulp
Downed the glass of water.
Down
(Football) To put (the ball) out of play by touching it to the ground or stepping out of bounds.
Down
To go or come down; descend.
Down
(comparable) From a higher position to a lower one; downwards.
The cat jumped down from the table.
Down
(comparable) At a lower or further place or position along a set path.
His place is farther down the road.
The company was well down the path to bankruptcy.
Down
As a down payment.
You can have it, no money down.
Down
On paper (or in a durable record).
You need to write down what happened while it's still fresh in your mind.
Down
To the south (as south is at the bottom of typical maps).
I went down to Miami for a conference.
Down
Away from the city (regardless of direction).
He went down to Cavan.
Down on the farm
Down country
Down
At or towards any place that is visualised as 'down' by virtue of local features or local convention, or arbitrarily, irrespective of direction or elevation change.
She lives down by the park.
Down
(sport) Towards the opponent's side (in ball-sports).
Down
Into a state of non-operation.
The computer has been shut down.
They closed the shop down.
Down
To a subordinate or less prestigious position or rank.
Smith was sent down to the minors to work on his batting.
After the incident, Kelly went down to Second Lieutenant.
Down
(rail transport) In the direction leading away from the principal terminus, away from milepost zero.
Down
Get down.
Down, boy!
Down
Away from Oxford or Cambridge.
He's gone back down to Newcastle for Christmas.
Down
From a remoter or higher antiquity.
These traditions have been handed down over generations.
Down
So as to lessen quantity, level or intensity.
You need to tone down the rhetoric.
Please turn the music down!
Down
So as to reduce size, weight or volume.
Trim the stick down to a length of about twelve inches.
Thanks to my strict diet, I've slimmed down to eleven stone.
Boil the mixture down to a syrupy consistency.
Down
From less to greater detail.
This spreadsheet lets you drill down to daily or even hourly sales figures.
Down
So as to secure or compress something to the floor, ground, or other (usually horizontal) surface.
We need to nail down this carpet so people don't keep tripping over it.
Down
Used with verbs to indicate that the action of the verb was carried to some state of completion, permanence, or success rather than being of indefinite duration.
He closed operations. / He closed down operations.
He chased answers. / He chased down answers.
Down
Forward, straight ahead.
At the first intersection turn left and walk down, then turn right.
Down
From the higher end to the lower of.
The ball rolled down the hill.
Down
From north to south of.
We sailed down the eastern seaboard.
Down
From one end to another of (in any direction); along.
The bus went down the street.
They walked down the beach holding hands.
Down
(colloquial) At (a given place that is seen as removed from one's present location or other point of reference).
I'll see you later down the pub.
Down
Facing downwards.
Turn the cloth over so that the patterned side is down.
Down
At a lower level than before.
The stock market is down.
Prices are down.
Down
(informal) Sad, unhappy, depressed, feeling low.
Mary seems very down since she split up with her boyfriend.
Down
Sick, wounded, or damaged:
Down
(normally in the combination 'down with') Sick or ill.
He is down with the flu.
Down
Wounded and unable to move normally, or killed.
We have an officer down outside the suspect's house.
There are three soldiers down and one walking wounded.
Down
Mechanically failed, collided, shot down, or otherwise suddenly unable to fly.
We have a chopper down near the river.
Down
(not comparable) Inoperable; out of order; out of service.
The system is down.
Down
Having a lower score than an opponent.
They are down by 3–0 with just 5 minutes to play.
He was down by a bishop and a pawn after 15 moves.
At 5–1 down, she produced a great comeback to win the set on a tiebreak.
Down
Out.
Two down and one to go in the bottom of the ninth.
Down
Negative about; hostile to.
Ever since Carter, I've been down on Democrats.
Down
Comfortable with, accepting of.
He's chill enough; he'd probably be totally down with it.
Are you down to hang out at the mall, Jamal?
As long as you're down with helping me pick a phone, Tyrone.
Down
Accepted, respected, or loyally participating in the (thug) community.
What you mean, 'No'? Man, I thought you was down.
Down
Finished (of a task); defeated or dealt with (of an opponent or obstacle); elapsed (of time). Often coupled with to go (remaining).
Two down and three to go.
Ten minutes down and nothing's happened yet.
Down
Thoroughly practiced, learned or memorised; mastered. Compare down pat.
It's two weeks until opening night and our lines are still not down yet.
Down
(obsolete) Downright; absolute; positive.
Down
(of a tree, limb, etc) Fallen or felled.
Down
(transitive) To knock (someone or something) down; to cause to come down; to fell.
The storm downed several old trees along the highway.
A single rifle shot downed the mighty beast.
Down
(transitive) Specifically, to cause (something in the air) to fall to the ground; to bring down (with a missile etc.).
The helicopter was downed by a surface-to-air missile.
Down
(transitive) To lower; to put (something) down.
The bell rang for lunch, and the workers downed their tools.
Down
To defeat; to overpower.
Down
To disparage; to put down.
Down
To go or come down; to descend.
Down
To drink or swallow, especially without stopping before the vessel containing the liquid is empty.
He downed an ale and ordered another.
Down
To sink (a ball) into a hole or pocket.
He downed two balls on the break.
Down
(transitive) To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down.
Down
A negative aspect; a downer, a downside.
I love almost everything about my job. The only down is that I can't take Saturdays off.
Down
(dated) A grudge (on someone).
Down
An act of swallowing an entire drink at once.
Down
(American football) A single play, from the time the ball is snapped (the start) to the time the whistle is blown (the end) when the ball is down, or is downed.
I bet after the third down, the kicker will replace the quarterback on the field.
Down
(crosswords) A clue whose solution runs vertically in the grid.
I haven't solved 12 or 13 across, but I've got most of the downs.
Down
A downstairs room of a two-story house.
She lives in a two-up two-down.
Down
Down payment.
Down
The lightest quark with a charge number of −3.
Down
(especially southern England) A hill, especially a chalk hill; rolling grassland
We went for a walk over the downs.
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England.
Down
A field, especially one used for horse racing.
Down
A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep.
Down
Soft, fluffy immature feathers which grow on young birds. Used as insulating material in duvets, sleeping bags and jackets.
Down
(botany) The pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or envelope of the seeds of certain plants, such as the thistle.
Down
The soft hair of the face when beginning to appear.
Down
That which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords ease and repose, like a bed of down.
Down
Fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of animals or plants, not matted and fleecy like wool
And the first down begins to shade his face.
Down
A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep; - usually in the plural.
Seven thousand broad-tailed sheep grazed on his downs.
Down
A state of depression; low state; abasement.
It the downs of life too much outnumber the ups.
Down
To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down.
Down
To cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down.
I remember how you downed Beauclerk and Hamilton, the wits, once at our house.
Down
To go down; to descend.
Down
In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below; - the opposite of up.
Down
From a higher to a lower position, literally or figuratively; in a descending direction; from the top of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior condition; as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and the like; into a state of rest; - used with verbs indicating motion.
It will be rain to-night. Let it come down.
I sit me down beside the hazel grove.
And that drags down his life.
There is not a more melancholy object in the learned world than a man who has written himself down.
The French . . . shone down [i. e., outshone] the English.
Down
In a low or the lowest position, literally or figuratively; at the bottom of a descent; below the horizon; on the ground; in a condition of humility, dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of quiet.
I was down and out of breath.
The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.
He that is down needs fear no fall.
Down
From a remoter or higher antiquity.
Venerable men! you have come down to us from a former generation.
Down
From a greater to a less bulk, or from a thinner to a thicker consistence; as, to boil down in cookery, or in making decoctions.
Come down upon us with a mighty power.
Down
In a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place upon or within; at a lower place in or on; as, down a hill; down a well.
Down
Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as, to sail or swim down a stream; to sail down the sound.
Down
Downcast; as, a down look.
Down
Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial.
Down
Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway.
Down
Soft fine feathers
Down
(American football) a complete play to advance the football;
You have 4 downs to gain 10 yards
Down
English physician who first described Down's syndrome (1828-1896)
Down
(usually plural) a rolling treeless highland with little soil
Down
Fine soft dense hair (as the fine short hair of cattle or deer or the wool of sheep or the undercoat of certain dogs)
Down
Drink down entirely;
He downed three martinis before dinner
She killed a bottle of brandy that night
They popped a few beer after work
Down
Eat immoderately;
Some people can down a pound of meat in the course of one meal
Down
Bring down or defeat (an opponent)
Down
Shoot at and force to come down;
The enemy landed several of our aircraft
Down
Cause to come or go down;
The policeman downed the heavily armed suspect
The mugger knocked down the old lady after she refused to hand over her wallet
Down
Improve or perfect by pruning or polishing;
Refine one's style of writing
Down
Being or moving lower in position or less in some value;
Lay face down
The moon is down
Our team is down by a run
Down by a pawn
The stock market is down today
Down
Becoming progressively lower;
The down trend in the real estate market
Down
Understood perfectly;
Had his algebra problems down
Down
Extending or moving from a higher to a lower place;
The down staircase
The downward course of the stream
Down
Out;
Two down in the last of the ninth
Down
Lower than previously;
The market is depressed
Prices are down
Down
Shut;
The shades were down
Down
Cut down;
The tree is down
Down
Not functioning (temporarily or permanently);
We can't work because the computer is down
Down
Low in spirits;
Lonely and blue in a strange city
Depressed by the loss of his job
A dispirited and resigned expression on her face
Downcast after his defeat
Feeling discouraged and downhearted
Down
The fractional price paid in cash at time of purchase;
The down payment
A payment of $200 down
Down
Spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position;
Don't fall down
Rode the lift up and skied down
Prices plunged downward
Down
Away from a more central or a more northerly place;
Was sent down to work at the regional office
Worked down on the farm
Came down for the wedding
Flew down to Florida
Down
Paid in cash at time of purchase;
Put ten dollars down on the necklace
Down
From an earlier time;
The story was passed down from father to son
Down
To a lower intensity;
He slowly phased down the light until the stage was completely black
Down
In an inactive or inoperative state;
The factory went down during the strike
The computer went down again
Common Curiosities
How do "downstairs" and "down" compare in terms of usage frequency?
"Down" is used more frequently and broadly across contexts, while "downstairs" is more specific to buildings and their interiors.
Can "down" be used in technology contexts?
Yes, "down" is often used in technology to describe reduced functionality or a system being offline.
Is "downstairs" only applicable to homes?
"Downstairs" can refer to any lower floor in any building, not just homes.
Is "down" always related to physical movement?
While often used to describe physical movement, "down" can also express metaphorical or figurative states, like feeling down.
Does "down" always imply a negative direction?
"Down" indicates a lower position or direction but isn't inherently negative; its connotation depends on context.
Can "downstairs" be used outside the context of a building?
No, "downstairs" specifically refers to a location within a multi-level building or structure.
How does "downstairs" relate to accessibility?
"Downstairs" can indicate the need for stairs or an elevator, which is important in discussions of accessibility.
Does the use of "down" vary by English dialect?
Yes, the use and connotation of "down" can vary slightly between English dialects, but its basic meaning remains consistent.
Can "down" signify emotional states?
Yes, "down" can describe emotional states, such as feeling sad or depressed.
Can "downstairs" refer to a basement?
Yes, "downstairs" can include the basement if it's considered a lower level of the building.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
