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
Lewis Mumford2
: 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
At the top of the outdoor stairs, one door opens directly to the kitchen and another to the living room, which has parquet wood floors and windows with treetop views.
—Angela Serratore, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Cutting and fitting new stair components, including stringers and treads.
Installing the new stairs and ensuring they are securely anchored.
—USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
The fascia is peeling off, roof shingles are fraying, the stairs should be replaced and the electrical system needs an upgrade.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Impediments to park enjoyment ranged from problems with infrastructure, such as stairs or uneven terrain, to sensory overload caused by crowded, high-traffic attractions.
—Lisa Kadane, AFAR Media, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stair
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.
Angela Serratore, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Cutting and fitting new stair components, including stringers and treads.
Installing the new stairs and ensuring they are securely anchored.
—USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
The fascia is peeling off, roof shingles are fraying, the stairs should be replaced and the electrical system needs an upgrade.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Impediments to park enjoyment ranged from problems with infrastructure, such as stairs or uneven terrain, to sensory overload caused by crowded, high-traffic attractions.
—Lisa Kadane, AFAR Media, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stair
Cite this Entry
“Stair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stair. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share