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steppingstone

American  
[step-ing-stohn] / ˈstɛp ɪŋˌstoʊn /

noun

  1. a stone, or one of a line of stones, in shallow water, a marshy place, or the like, that is stepped on in crossing.

  2. a stone for use in mounting or ascending.

  3. any means or stage of advancement or improvement.

    She looked on the governorship as a steppingstone to the presidency.

Etymology

Origin of steppingstone

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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