doorstep

noun

door·​step ˈdȯr-ˌstep How to pronounce doorstep (audio)
: a step before an outer door
Phrases
on one's doorstep
: close at hand
especially : too close to be overlooked

Examples of doorstep in a Sentence

We sat on the doorstep. The police were at my doorstep.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
If the wind did not die that night when the fire was at my doorstep, Topanga would have suffered the same fate as the Palisades. Ivan Kashinsky, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Jan. 2025 Fortunately, Amazon is overflowing with winter wedding guest dresses that’ll speedily arrive at your doorstep with a Prime membership. Isabel Garcia, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025 Be wary of personal solicitations on your doorstep or over the phone. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 The camera provided a full head-to-toe view of my doorstep and had no issues executing Alexa voice commands to stream video to an Amazon Echo Show display. PCMAG, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for doorstep 

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doorstep was in 1767

Dictionary Entries Near doorstep

Cite this Entry

“Doorstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doorstep. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

doorstep

noun
door·​step -ˌstep How to pronounce doorstep (audio)
: a step or series of steps before an outer door

More from Merriam-Webster on doorstep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!