to step up
182
3.7
- phrasal verb
- /stɛp ʌp/
:
hacerse cargo
- I'm asking you to step up and start having more perfect days.
- step up to the plate
- need to step up
- step up to leadership
But then when bad things happen, he steps up and saves them all.
- But then when bad things happen, he steps up and saves them all.
- Now he's got to step up and prove that he's my man.
- Thank you both of you for stepping up and being courageous.
- And there were so many patriots that day that stepped up to help other people.
- My boss, my coworkers, my mother who financially stepped up and helped us.
- And we have to get more great, amazing, inspiring people to step up and join this struggle.
- So I kind of stepped up and I've been playing that role for her.
- Mayors, communities, businesses, universities step up and take advantage of these.
- And then when there's a big challenge that comes, people step up on average.
- We've gone to our employees and they've stepped up and we've gone to our investors.
- Like when are you going to step up and really take control of your life?
- And to act and to find your own courage and not be afraid to step up and get involved.
- This shouldn't be the reason why guys step up or other parents step up.
Examples
-
You have said that it is time for others to step up and I agree.
-
The community needs leaders who are willing to step up during difficult times.
-
But if you really want this, you have to step up right now.
-
Can we feel it and can we step up and own our own power?
-
So I really wanted them to step up and they did.
-
So we'll be among the first to step up when that happens.
-
So step up and take some responsibility for once in your life.
-
It is time to take responsibility, call out hate, step up and take action.
-
Thank you both of you for stepping up and being courageous.
-
Now he's got to step up and prove that he's my man.
Synonyms
342
3.2
To offer help or information, often to the police
240
3.2
To get involved to help or take someone's place
146
3.1
Volunteer to help or take responsibility
79
3.2
To start guiding a group or activity and make the main decisions
32
4.6
To take responsibility and act when a difficult situation happens
2
7.3
To take responsibility and act when someone else cannot
To offer to take charge of a group or task
Antonyms
How Involved
98
3.5
182
3.7
240
3.2
- Informal
486
1.0
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'to take action or become more involved' is partially derivable from 'step' (move into a role) + 'up' (move to a higher level or increase), so learners can infer a general notion of increasing involvement. However, the specific pragmatic meaning of 'accepting responsibility' or 'making oneself visible' is a metaphorical extension and not fully predictable for an average B1 learner without prior exposure.
Etymology
Step up comes from the picture of someone stepping forward onto a step or small stage to stand up where people can see them. That's why it means 'to take action' or 'to accept responsibility' and become more involved.