step

[ step ]
See synonyms for: stepsteppedsteppingsteps on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a movement made by lifting the foot and setting it down again in a new position, accompanied by a shifting of the weight of the body in the direction of the new position, as in walking, running, or dancing.

  2. such a movement followed by a movement of equal distance of the other foot: The soldier took one step forward and stood at attention.

  1. the space passed over or the distance measured by one such movement of the foot.

  2. the sound made by the foot in making such a movement.

  3. a mark or impression made by the foot on the ground; footprint.

  4. the manner of walking; gait; stride.

  5. pace in marching: double-quick step.

  6. a pace uniform with that of another or others, or in time with music.

  7. steps, movements or course in walking or running: to retrace one's steps.

  8. a move, act, or proceeding, as toward some end or in the general course of some action; stage, measure, or period: the five steps to success.

  9. rank, degree, or grade, as on a vertical scale.

  10. a support for the foot in ascending or descending: a step of a ladder; a stair of 14 steps.

  11. a very short distance: She was never more than a step away from her children.

  12. a repeated pattern or unit of movement in a dance formed by a combination of foot and body motions.

  13. Music.

    • a degree of the staff or of the scale.

    • the interval between two adjacent scale degrees; second.: Compare semitone, whole step.

  14. steps, British. a stepladder.

  15. an offset part of anything.

  16. Nautical. a socket, frame, or platform for supporting the lower end of a mast.

  17. Mining. a flat-topped ledge on the face of a quarry or a mine working.

verb (used without object),stepped, step·ping.
  1. to move, go, etc., by lifting the foot and setting it down again in a new position, or by using the feet alternately in this manner: to step forward.

  2. to walk, or go on foot, especially for a few strides or a short distance: Step over to the bar.

  1. to move with measured steps, as in a dance.

  2. to go briskly or fast, as a horse.

  3. to obtain, find, win, come upon, etc., something easily and naturally, as if by a mere step of the foot: to step into a good business opportunity.

  4. to put the foot down; tread by intention or accident: to step on a cat's tail.

  5. to press with the foot, as on a lever, spring, or the like, in order to operate some mechanism.

verb (used with object),stepped, step·ping.
  1. to take (a step, pace, stride, etc.).

  2. to go through or perform the steps of (a dance).

  1. to move or set (the foot) in taking a step.

  2. to measure (a distance, ground, etc.) by steps (sometimes followed by off or out).

  3. to make or arrange in the manner of a series of steps.

  4. Nautical. to fix (a mast) in its step.

Verb Phrases
  1. step down,

    • to lower or decrease by degrees.

    • to relinquish one's authority or control; resign: Although he was past retirement age, he refused to step down and let his son take over the business.

  2. step in, to become involved; intervene, as in a quarrel or fight: The brawl was well under way by the time the police stepped in.

  1. step out,

    • to leave a place, especially for a brief period of time.

    • to walk or march at a more rapid pace.

    • to go out to a social gathering or on a date: We're stepping out tonight.

  2. step up,

    • to raise or increase by degrees: to step up production.

    • to be promoted; advance.

    • to make progress; improve.

Idioms about step

  1. break step, to interrupt or cease walking or marching in step: The marching units were allowed to break step after they had passed the reviewing stand.

  2. in step,

    • moving in time to a rhythm or with the corresponding step of others.

    • in harmony or conformity with: They are not in step with the times.

  1. keep step, to keep pace; stay in step: The construction of classrooms and the training of teachers have not kept step with population growth.

  2. out of step,

    • not in time to a rhythm or corresponding to the step of others.

    • not in harmony or conformity with: They are out of step with the others in their group.

  3. step by step,

    • from one stage to the next in sequence.

    • gradually and steadily: We were shown the steelmaking process step by step.

  4. step on it, Informal. to hasten one's activity or steps; hurry up: If we don't step on it, we'll miss the show.

  5. take steps, to set about putting something into operation; begin to act: I will take steps to see that your application is processed.

  6. watch one's step, to proceed with caution; behave prudently: If she doesn't watch her step, she will be fired from her job.

Origin of step

1
First recorded before 900; (for the verb) Middle English steppen, Old English steppan; cognate with Old High German stepfen; akin to stamp; (for the noun) Middle English; Old English stepe

Other words from step

  • stepless, adjective
  • steplike, adjective
  • coun·ter·step, noun, verb, coun·ter·stepped, coun·ter·step·ping.
  • outstep, verb (used with object), out·stepped, out·step·ping.
  • un·der·step, noun

Words that may be confused with step

Words Nearby step

Other definitions for step- (2 of 2)

step-

  1. a prefix denoting connection between members of a family by the remarriage of a parent and not by blood: stepbrother.

Origin of step-

2
Middle English; Old English stēop-; cognate with German stief-,Old Norse stjūp- step-; akin to Old English āstēpan to bereave, bestēpan to deprive (of children)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use step in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for step (1 of 4)

step

/ (stɛp) /


noun
  1. the act of motion brought about by raising the foot and setting it down again in coordination with the transference of the weight of the body

  2. the distance or space covered by such a motion

  1. the sound made by such a movement

  2. the impression made by such movement of the foot; footprint

  3. the manner of walking or moving the feet; gait: he received his prize with a proud step

  4. a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance or part of a dance: I have mastered the steps of the waltz

  5. any of several paces or rhythmic movements in marching, dancing, etc: the goose step

  6. (plural) a course followed by a person in walking or as walking: they followed in their leader's steps

  7. one of a sequence of separate consecutive stages in the progression towards some goal: another step towards socialism

  8. a rank or grade in a series or scale: he was always a step behind

  9. an object or device that offers support for the foot when ascending or descending

  10. (plural) a flight of stairs, esp out of doors

  11. (plural) another name for stepladder

  12. a very short easily walked distance: it is only a step to my place

  13. music a melodic interval of a second: See whole tone, half-step

  14. an offset or change in the level of a surface similar to the step of a stair

  15. a strong block or frame bolted onto the keel of a vessel and fitted to receive the base of a mast

  16. a ledge cut in mining or quarrying excavations

  17. break step to cease to march in step

  18. in step

    • marching, dancing, etc, in conformity with a specified pace or moving in unison with others

    • informal in agreement or harmony

  19. keep step to remain walking, marching, dancing, etc, in unison or in a specified rhythm

  20. out of step

    • not moving in conformity with a specified pace or in accordance with others

    • informal not in agreement; out of harmony

  21. step by step with care and deliberation; gradually

  22. take steps to undertake measures (to do something) with a view to the attainment of some end

  23. watch one's step

    • informal to conduct oneself with caution and good behaviour

    • to walk or move carefully

verbsteps, stepping or stepped
  1. (intr) to move by raising the foot and then setting it down in a different position, transferring the weight of the body to this foot and repeating the process with the other foot

  2. (intr; often foll by in, out, etc) to move or go on foot, esp for a short distance: step this way, ladies

  1. (intr) informal, mainly US to move, often in an attractive graceful manner, as in dancing: he can really step around

  2. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) to place or press the foot; tread: to step on the accelerator

  3. (intr usually foll by into) to enter (into a situation) apparently with ease: she stepped into a life of luxury

  4. (tr) to walk or take (a number of paces, etc): to step ten paces

  5. (tr) to perform the steps of: they step the tango well

  6. (tr) to set or place (the foot)

  7. (tr; usually foll by off or out) to measure (some distance of ground) by stepping

  8. (tr) to arrange in or supply with a series of steps so as to avoid coincidence or symmetry

  9. (tr) to raise (a mast) and fit it into its step

Origin of step

1
Old English stepe, stæpe; related to Old Frisian stap, stepe, Old High German stapfo (German Stapfe footprint), Old Norse stapi high rock

Derived forms of step

  • steplike, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for Step (2 of 4)

Step

/ (stɛp) /


noun
    • a set of aerobic exercises designed to improve the cardiovascular system, which consists of stepping on and off a special box of adjustable height

    • (as modifier): Step aerobics

British Dictionary definitions for STEP (3 of 4)

STEP

/ (stɛp) /


n acronym for
  1. Special Temporary Employment Programme

British Dictionary definitions for step- (4 of 4)

step-

combining form
  1. indicating relationship through the previous marriage of a spouse or parent rather than by blood: stepson; stepfather

Origin of step-

4
Old English stēop-; compare āstӯpan to bereave

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with step

step

In addition to the idioms beginning with step

  • step aside
  • step by step
  • step down
  • step in
  • step in the right direction, a
  • step into
  • step into someone's shoes
  • step on it
  • step on someone's toes
  • step out
  • step out of line
  • step up

also see:

  • false step
  • in step
  • (step) out of line
  • take steps
  • watch one's step

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.