step

1 of 3

noun

ˈstep 

1

: a rest for the foot in ascending or descending: such as

a

: one of a series of structures consisting of a riser and a tread

b

: a ladder rung

2

a(1)

: an advance or movement made by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere

(2)

: a combination of foot or foot and body movements constituting a unit or a repeated pattern

a dance step

(3)

: manner of walking : stride

b

: footprint sense 1

c

: the sound of a footstep

3

a

: the space passed over in one step

b

: a short distance

c

: the height of one stair

4

steps plural : course, way

directed his steps toward the river

5

a

: a degree, grade, or rank in a scale

b

: a stage in a process

was guided through every step of my career

6

: a frame on a ship designed to receive an upright shaft

especially : a block supporting the heel of a mast

7

: an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series

taking steps to improve the situation

8

: a steplike offset or part usually occurring in a series

9

: the interval between two adjacent notes in a musical scale

10

: step aerobics

11

: a slight lead in or as if in a race

has a step on the competition

steplike

ˈstep-ˌlīk 

adjective

stepped

ˈstept 

adjective

step

2 of 3

verb

stepped; stepping; steps

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in succession

They stepped into the elevator.

She stepped inside and closed the door.

I'm sorry, but he just stepped outside for a moment.

When I call your name, please step forward.

She stepped up to the microphone.

I stepped up/down onto the landing.

He stepped back, startled.

Please step away from the moving doors.

They stepped aside to let the paramedics through.

We watched as the passengers stepped ashore.

b

: dance

Joyfully along the contra lines, the dancers held hands, listened to the caller, and stepped to the music …

—Joan Donaldson

2

a

: to go on foot : walk

She stepped down to the corner store.

see also step out

b

obsolete : advance, proceed

c

: to be on one's way : leave

—often used with along

told them to step along

see also step aside, step down

d

: to move briskly

kept us stepping

3

: to press down with the foot

step on the brake

4

: to come as if at a single step

stepped into a good job

5

: to extend by or as if by a stairstep

… the room steps down past a viewing area to a projection television screen hung from the ceiling.

—Sunset

A wooden retaining wall—which holds the slope above the staircase—steps up in level sections.

—Susan Lang

transitive verb

1

: to take (a pace, etc.) by moving the feet in succession

step three paces

2

a

: to move (the foot) in any direction : set

the first person to step foot on the moon

b

: to traverse (something) on foot

… proud … of stepping this famous pavement …

—Virginia Woolf

3

: to go through the steps of (something) : perform

step a minuet

4

: to make (something) erect by fixing the lower end in a step

step the mast

5

: to measure (something) by steps

step off 50 yards

6

a

: to provide (something) with steps

He stepped the front of the stage down into the stalls and built a permanent cyclorama across the full width of the rear wall.

—Colin Chambers

b

: to make steps in (something)

step a key

7

: to construct or arrange (something) in or as if in steps

… we looked down on an expanse of craggy peaks with terraces stepped up the sides …

—Time

see also step on it, step up

step-

3 of 3

combining form

: related by virtue of a marriage (as of a parent) and not by blood

stepparent

stepsister

Phrases

in step

1

: with each foot moving to the same time as the corresponding foot of others or in time to music

2

: in harmony or agreement

out of step

: not in step

out of step with the times

Synonyms

Noun

• expedient
• means
• measure
• move
• shift

Verb

• ambulate
• foot (it)
• hoof (it)
• leg (it)
• pad
• traipse
• tread
• walk

Examples of step in a Sentence

Noun

She took one step forward.

The baby took her first steps today.

I heard steps on the stairs.

The edge of the cliff was only about three steps to my left.

The cottage is just steps from the beach.

He walks with a spring in his step.

She walked down the hall with a quick step.

a major step towards independence

We are taking steps to correct the situation.

Verb

She stepped onto the bus.

They stepped aside to let her pass.

Please step away from the door.

He stepped outside for a moment.

Step in my office for a minute.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the absence of more stringent controls, the public can take steps to prevent the situation from worsening: avoiding raw milk and dead birds, for starters. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024

While the current cap on federal borrowing is suspended until Jan. 1, 2025, the Treasury Department would be able to take steps to avoid default for a few months into next year. —Robert Costa, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2024

Verb

In the documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First released on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the 73-year-old Genesis musician spoke about having to step away from the drums after playing for years. —Marina Watts, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, New York Police Department officers stood in the street, sometimes shouting at and shoving workers who stepped off the sidewalk. —Caroline Haskins, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English stæpe; akin to Old High German stapfo step, stampfōn to stamp

Combining form

Middle English, from Old English stēop-; akin to Old High German stiof- step-, Old English astēpan to deprive, bereave

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing step

• a/one step ahead of
• a step in the right direction
• a step up/down
• baby step
• break step
• by step
• counter-step
• every inch/step of the way
• every step of the way
• fall into step
• goose step
• half step
• hop, step, and jump
• keep step
• one-step
• pick/step up the pace
• route step
• side step
• step aerobics
• step aside
• step back
• step backward/forward
• step-by-step
• step change
• step dance
• step down
• step forward
• step function
• step in
• step into
• step into her shoes
• step into (someone's) shoes
• step lively
• step on it
• step on (someone's) toes
• step on the gas
• step on the toes of (someone)
• step out
• step out of line
• step right up
• step stool
• step turn
• step up
• step up to the plate
• stutter step
• two-step
• watch one's step
• whole step

Kids Definition

step

1 of 2 noun

ˈstep 

1

: a rest for the foot in going up or down : stair, rung

2

a

: a movement made by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere

b

: a combination of foot or foot and body movements in a repeated pattern

c

: manner of walking : stride

knows me by my step

d

: footprint

e

: the sound of a footstep

3

a

: the space passed over in one step

b

: a short distance

only a step away

c

: the height of one stair

4

plural : course entry 1 sense 2, way

guided their steps down the path

5

a

: a level or rank in a scale

one step nearer graduation

b

: a stage in a process

6

: an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series

took steps to correct the situation

7

: a musical scale degree

steplike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

stepped

ˈstept 

adjective

step

2 of 2 verb

stepped; stepping

1

a

: to move or take by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in order

step three paces

stepped ashore

b

: dance entry 1 sense 1

2

a

: to go on foot : walk

step outside

b

: to move briskly

really stepped along

3

: to press down with the foot

step on a nail

4

: to come as if at a single step

step into a good job

5

: to measure by steps

stepper noun