1
: a rest for the foot in ascending or descending: such as
a
: one of a series of structures consisting of a riser and a tread
b
: a ladder rung
2
a(1)
: an advance or movement made by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere
(2)
: a combination of foot or foot and body movements constituting a unit or a repeated pattern
a dance step
(3)
: manner of walking : stride
c
: the sound of a footstep
3
a
: the space passed over in one step
b
: a short distance
c
: the height of one stair
5
a
: a degree, grade, or rank in a scale
b
: a stage in a process
was guided through every step of my career
6
: a frame on a ship designed to receive an upright shaft
especially
: a block supporting the heel of a mast
7
: an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series
taking steps to improve the situation
8
: a steplike offset or part usually occurring in a series
9
: the interval between two adjacent notes in a musical scale
10
11
: a slight lead in or as if in a race
has a step on the competition
stepped; stepping; steps
1
a
: to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in succession
They stepped into the elevator.
She stepped inside and closed the door.
I'm sorry, but he just stepped outside for a moment.
When I call your name, please step forward.
She stepped up to the microphone.
I stepped up/down onto the landing.
He stepped back, startled.
Please step away from the moving doors.
They stepped aside to let the paramedics through.
We watched as the passengers stepped ashore.
b
: dance
Joyfully along the contra lines, the dancers held hands, listened to the caller, and stepped to the music …—
Joan Donaldson
Joan Donaldson2
3
: to press down with the foot
step on the brake
4
: to come as if at a single step
stepped into a good job
5
: to extend by or as if by a stairstep
… the room steps down past a viewing area to a projection television screen hung from the ceiling.—Sunset
SunsetA wooden retaining wall—which holds the slope above the staircase—steps up in level sections.—Susan Lang
Susan Lang1
: to take (a pace, etc.) by moving the feet in succession
step three paces
2
a
: to move (the foot) in any direction : set
the first person to step foot on the moon
b
: to traverse (something) on foot
… proud … of stepping this famous pavement …—Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf3
: to go through the steps of (something) : perform
step a minuet
4
: to make (something) erect by fixing the lower end in a step
step the mast
5
: to measure (something) by steps
step off 50 yards
6
a
: to provide (something) with steps
He stepped the front of the stage down into the stalls and built a permanent cyclorama across the full width of the rear wall.—Colin Chambers
Colin Chambers
b
: to make steps in (something)
step a key
7
: to construct or arrange (something) in or as if in steps
… we looked down on an expanse of craggy peaks with terraces stepped up the sides …—Time
Timesee also step on it, step up
: related by virtue of a marriage (as of a parent) and not by blood
stepparent
stepsister
Synonyms
Examples of step in a Sentence
Noun
She took one step forward.
The baby took her first steps today.
I heard steps on the stairs.
The edge of the cliff was only about three steps to my left.
The cottage is just steps from the beach.
He walks with a spring in his step.
She walked down the hall with a quick step.
a major step towards independence
We are taking steps to correct the situation.
Verb
She stepped onto the bus.
They stepped aside to let her pass.
Please step away from the door.
He stepped outside for a moment.
Step in my office for a minute.
Recent Examples on the WebPam Lolley and Robby Melvin, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2024
The organizers created a publicly accessible forum to discuss next steps, and a couple of attendees spoke to a reporter from the Times, despite the mainstream media’s ostensible complicity in the coverup.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
American sensors, some on satellites orbiting far above, were a key to monitoring every step: the Iranian launches, and then controlling the allies’ response so that friendly planes wouldn’t knock each other out of the skies.
—Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
To donate or pick up a dress, visit A Princess PROMise and fill out the corresponding application so that Mach can get in touch about the next steps, or send her an email at aprincesspromiseorg@gmail.com.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
The next steps remain unclear, but Israel is facing pleas from its allies to step back from the brink of open warfare and chose a path of de-escalation.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Casita Las Palmas, a beachfront bungalow located just steps from the thundering surf, is the most romantic suite at the hotel.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024
Regardless of how inspired people are to achieve their health and fitness goals, many face barriers to putting in the time, reps or steps.
—Danielle Friedman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024
According to the United Nations, famine is a step away for 1.6 million of Haiti’s 11 million people.
—Pierre Esperance, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024
Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
In a white building on the corner of Washington and Twelfth Streets, kids laugh and ride their scooters in the parking lot while soulful music spills out and invites visitors to step inside.
—The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024
No one who has stepped inside the store in recent years would find that surprising.
—Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
Planners at the time hoped to build on the appeal of the Music Center, which was built in the 1960s and served as a popular destination for arts patrons who typically drove in and out without stepping outside its boundaries.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Though the majority of the cast stepped away from the limelight, below, see what those who remained in the business have been up to from their young days as child stars till now.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
For many Sacramento Kings fans who live in the capital city, the contagious chant is coupled with the joy of stepping outside and craning their neck to the evening sky.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
While Bayern has struggled domestically this season, the team has stepped it up at times in the Champions League and some of its best performances so far this season have come in Europe.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The aftermath to what can rightly be called a landmark moment in Bombshell TV has been duly discussed, dissected, and given the timeline treatment: Prince Andrew quickly stepped away from his royal duties, was stripped of his titles, and witnessed a verdict passed in the court of public opinion.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
For this hot potato salad recipe, just one step will require a little planning ahead.
—Pam Lolley and Robby Melvin, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2024
The organizers created a publicly accessible forum to discuss next steps, and a couple of attendees spoke to a reporter from the Times, despite the mainstream media’s ostensible complicity in the coverup.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
American sensors, some on satellites orbiting far above, were a key to monitoring every step: the Iranian launches, and then controlling the allies’ response so that friendly planes wouldn’t knock each other out of the skies.
—Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
To donate or pick up a dress, visit A Princess PROMise and fill out the corresponding application so that Mach can get in touch about the next steps, or send her an email at aprincesspromiseorg@gmail.com.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
The next steps remain unclear, but Israel is facing pleas from its allies to step back from the brink of open warfare and chose a path of de-escalation.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Casita Las Palmas, a beachfront bungalow located just steps from the thundering surf, is the most romantic suite at the hotel.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024
Regardless of how inspired people are to achieve their health and fitness goals, many face barriers to putting in the time, reps or steps.
—Danielle Friedman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024
According to the United Nations, famine is a step away for 1.6 million of Haiti’s 11 million people.
—Pierre Esperance, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, announced Garner would step away temporarily in early February.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
In a white building on the corner of Washington and Twelfth Streets, kids laugh and ride their scooters in the parking lot while soulful music spills out and invites visitors to step inside.
—The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024
No one who has stepped inside the store in recent years would find that surprising.
—Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
Planners at the time hoped to build on the appeal of the Music Center, which was built in the 1960s and served as a popular destination for arts patrons who typically drove in and out without stepping outside its boundaries.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Though the majority of the cast stepped away from the limelight, below, see what those who remained in the business have been up to from their young days as child stars till now.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
For many Sacramento Kings fans who live in the capital city, the contagious chant is coupled with the joy of stepping outside and craning their neck to the evening sky.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
While Bayern has struggled domestically this season, the team has stepped it up at times in the Champions League and some of its best performances so far this season have come in Europe.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The aftermath to what can rightly be called a landmark moment in Bombshell TV has been duly discussed, dissected, and given the timeline treatment: Prince Andrew quickly stepped away from his royal duties, was stripped of his titles, and witnessed a verdict passed in the court of public opinion.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'step.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to step
Dictionary Entries Near step
Cite this Entry
“Step.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
step
1 of 2 noun2
3
a
: the space passed over in one step
b
: a short distance
only a step away
c
: the height of one stair
4
plural
: course entry 1 sense 2, way
guided their steps down the path
5
a
: a level or rank in a scale
one step nearer graduation
b
: a stage in a process
6
: an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series
took steps to correct the situation
7
: a musical scale degree
step
2 of 2 verb
stepped; stepping
1
a
: to move or take by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in order
step three paces
stepped ashore
2
a
: to go on foot : walk
step outside
b
: to move briskly
really stepped along
3
: to press down with the foot
step on a nail
4
: to come as if at a single step
step into a good job
5
: to measure by steps
stepper
noun
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