to step
- verb
- /stɛp/
- During the renovation, the crew made sure to step carefully on the fragile wooden beams.
Examples
-
The workers will step on the scaffolding to reach the higher levels of the building.
-
The SWU recently initiated a promotional campaign to step up recycling of old corrugated containers.
Academic text (1995) -
So it's a perfect place to step in and connect two points.
-
Step up on the bus.
-
Also, the government is currently reluctant to step into the internal struggles between schools.
Academic text (1990) -
Once the student teacher is comfortable with simple tasks, step up the involvement.
Academic text (2006) -
To improve safety, we need to step up the construction of additional staircases in the old building.
Idioms
- Informal
To take responsibility and act when a difficult situation happens
- Informal
Make someone angry by doing their job or making decisions for them
- Informal
An energetic way of walking that shows happiness or confidence
- Informal
Become the main focus of people's attention after doing something important
A small action that leads to a very large benefit for all people
Phrasal Verbs
- Informal
To press the pedal in a car to make it go faster or hurry to finish something
To have sex or a romantic relationship with someone who is not your partner
Compounds
A short portable structure with flat steps and two sides joined at the top to form an A shape
- Specialized
The smallest jump between two notes in Western music, one piano key apart
- Specialized
A device that raises the voltage of electric current that changes direction
- Specialized
A rocket with two or more parts that fire one after another and drop away when empty to reach space
- Specialized
A device that lowers high electric voltage so appliances work safely
A track event where an athlete does a hop, a step, then a long jump in one run
- Specialized
A stone or brick step that sticks out along the sloping edge of a gable wall
Surface Forms
Etymology
Step can mean 'to make places for feet', so to step an embankment is to build levels or terraces where people can walk.