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
Become the main focus of people's attention after doing something important
- Informal
An energetic way of walking that shows happiness or confidence
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
- Specialized
The smallest jump between two notes in Western music, one piano key apart
A short portable structure with flat steps and two sides joined at the top to form an A shape
- Specialized
A device that raises the voltage of electric current that changes direction
- Specialized
A stone or brick step that sticks out along the sloping edge of a gable wall
A track event where an athlete does a hop, a step, then a long jump in one run
- 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
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.