stair

noun

ˈster 

1

: a series of steps or flights of steps for passing from one level to another

—often used in plural but singular or plural in construction

… a narrow private stairs …

—Lewis Mumford

2

: a single step of a stairway

Examples of stair in a Sentence

She ran down the stairs.

He waited at the foot of the stairs.

She slipped and fell down the stairs.

The stairs lead to the roof.

We had to climb another flight of stairs to get to the roof.

He tripped on the bottom stair and almost fell.

Recent Examples on the Web

Accessibility This is an old home with stone stairs throughout. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

There are built-ins underneath the stairs, which lead to a sleeping loft with a skylight. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Oct. 2026

But the image that stays with me is of a meeting with Olga, climbing the winding stairs of our little building for a somewhat chaotic coffee in the festival’s office. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

The killer, dressed in a black hoodie and armed with what appeared to be a large kitchen knife, exited the station with the crowd, descending the stairs right behind a woman holding a small child’s hand. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English steir, from Old English stǣger; akin to Old English & Old High German stīgan to rise, Greek steichein to walk

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stair

• stair climber
• stair climbing
• stair stepper

Rhymes for stair

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

stair

noun

ˈsta(ə)r 

ˈste(ə)r

1

: a series of steps or flights of steps for passing from one level to another

—often used in plural

ran down the stairs

2

: one step of a stairway