stair

noun

ˈster How to pronounce stair (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Up the stairs is the living room (sofa bed included) and kitchenette. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026 But staying sharp at 85 and being able to climb the stairs at 90 and recognize your grandchildren at 95—that’s the real flex. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2026 Breathlessly Eva, 41, runs up and down the dusty stairs in a bright yellow raincoat, exposing the real estate investor’s schemes, rallying her neighbors, fighting with her husband, wondering what went wrong. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026 Use gates and other barriers to prevent falls, particularly around stairs or elevated furniture. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stair

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of stair was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing stair

Rhymes for stair

See All Rhymes for stair

Browse Nearby Words

stainless steel
stair
staircase
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stair. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stair

noun
ˈsta(ə)r How to pronounce stair (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on stair

Nglish: Translation of stair for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stair

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