a step up/down
idiom
: more/less important, challenging, etc., than something had before
The new job is a step up/down for her.
Examples of a step up/down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Staging ground for diplomacy Direct engagement in high-stakes international diplomacy over the largest war in Europe since 1945 is undoubtedly a step up in Saudi ambitions.
—
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2025
Driving the news: Stepstone and PeakXV will buy up to $30 million in common stock in the tender offer, at a step up in valuation from the $1.2 billion Hightouch netted last month from investors including Sapphire Ventures.
—Lucinda Shen, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025
The laptop starts at $1,199—$100 less than last year—for 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD, and our review unit is a step up from that, with a 512GB SSD for $1,399.
—PCMAG, 12 Mar. 2025
Pretending to get shot might not seem like a step up in employment, but Lincoln is relieved to be off the streets.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a step up/down
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.
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2025
Driving the news: Stepstone and PeakXV will buy up to $30 million in common stock in the tender offer, at a step up in valuation from the $1.2 billion Hightouch netted last month from investors including Sapphire Ventures.
—Lucinda Shen, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025
The laptop starts at $1,199—$100 less than last year—for 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD, and our review unit is a step up from that, with a 512GB SSD for $1,399.
—PCMAG, 12 Mar. 2025
Pretending to get shot might not seem like a step up in employment, but Lincoln is relieved to be off the streets.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a step up/down
Cite this Entry
“A step up/down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20step%20up%2Fdown. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share