1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
took steps to ensure that there would be no more incidences of food poisoning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in stage
an individual part of a process, series, or ranking
the manual enumerates every step in the procedure for shutting down the assembly line
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3
4
5
as in inch
a very small distance or degree
he lives just a step away from his elderly mother, so he's there if she needs him for any reason
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to walk
to go on foot
I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner
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2
as in to dance
to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music
she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor
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3
as in to hurry
to proceed or move quickly
many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of step
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
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
Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 6 Jan. 2025
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
See all Example Sentences for step 
Noun
To remove an extension from Google Chrome, follow these steps:
Open Chrome and click the icon that looks like a piece of a puzzle.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
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
Verb
First-time Golden Globe winner Zoe Saldana stepped onto the red carpet supporting the sequins agenda that many stars stuck to.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 6 Jan. 2025
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
See all Example Sentences for step
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step
Noun
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Forecasters and scientists say a perfect storm of weather conditions set the stage for the fires' explosive growth: hurricane-force winds, low humidity, and relentless drought conditions.Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
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Her resignation in December, spurred by disagreements with Trudeau over economic policies, set the stage for his departure amid declining popularity.Amir Daftari, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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While her son Justin, 38, opted for a life out of the spotlight, daughters Rainey Qualley, 35, and Margaret Qualley, 30, followed in their mom’s footsteps, and Andie costarred with Margaret in 2021’s Maid.Julie Jordan, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
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People first looked to Mastodon before Meta launched Threads in the summer of 2023—but now Meta is following in Musk’s footsteps by rolling back content-moderation policies, so many find that Bluesky makes more sense.Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In the landscape of a story, fact checkers’ trails can often be followed along a path of hedges and denials, but an elegant fix may render the footwork behind it invisible.Fergus McIntosh, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025
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This would arm the Seahawks with additional draft capital and cap space to go down a path similar to the first option: pair a rookie with a low-cost veteran free agent quarterback and let the two of them compete with Howell in the summer.Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Will this year be different? → 8 puppies saved from trash can at Fort Worth park → 2 to 3 inches of snow possible this week [Get our breaking news alerts.Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 2025
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The weather service says Kansas City has a low chance, less than 40%, of a dusting of snow and less than a 2% chance of seeing an inch of snow.Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Doubs eventually walked off the field and to the locker room with two trainers assisting him.Jelani Scott, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
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Owners love them for all kinds of activities, like walking, hiking, and sightseeing.Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Celebrations erupted soon after, with people spilling out into the streets to sing, dance and wave Palestinians flags.Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 16 Jan. 2025
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Free coffee for dancing customers at this cafe — check it out!Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Pope took a series of pictures with her phone, her hands shaking, and hurried back around the house and into her apartment.Ian Frisch, Curbed, 9 Jan. 2025
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Wildfires raged across Southern California on Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead and prompting thousands of evacuations as blazes closed in on Los Angeles neighborhoods like the Pacific Palisades and residents hurried to escape.Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Such measures were never the subject of widespread debate.John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
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Washington — The House on Tuesday passed a Republican measure banning transgender girls and women from competing on school sports teams that match their gender identity after the party leaned into the issue during the 2024 campaign.Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Step.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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