Step

/stɛp/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A movement made by lifting the foot and putting it down in a new position.

She took a step forward to greet him.

A stage in a process.

The first step in solving the puzzle is to gather all the pieces.

A degree of progress or advancement.

He made a significant step in his career by accepting the new position.

verb

To move by raising the foot and putting it down in a different place.

He stepped over the puddle to avoid getting wet.

To take action or take a specific course of action.

It's time to step up and take responsibility for our decisions.

Old English 'stæep', meaning a step or stair.

take a step back

To pause and reconsider a situation.

step up

To increase one's effort or responsibility.

one step at a time

To take things slowly and not rush.

step on someone's toes

To offend or upset someone.

footstep

The sound made by someone walking.

stair

A set of steps for going from one level to another.

pace

The speed at which someone walks.

To step out

I'm going to step out for a smoke.

Step up

He needs to step up his game if he wants to win.

Step on it

You need to step on it if you want to be on time.