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Glite Dictionary
to stay in step with

to stay in step with

1 3.9
Keep up with changes so you do not fall behind
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : mantenerse al día con
  • To succeed in this rapidly changing market, it is essential to stay in step with consumer trends.

Examples

  • Wallace looks closer and sees Henry Lee, who stays in step with Wallace as he walks up Bowery.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The company must stay in step with new technology to remain competitive.

  • She tries to stay in step with her colleagues by attending all the latest training sessions.

Synonyms

to keep up
vsto stay in step with
507 2.8

To continue at the same speed or level as others

focuses on adapting to changes rather than just matching level
to keep up with
vsto stay in step with
172 3.5

To learn about the latest news or trends

emphasizes adapting actions to change rather than only gathering information
to keep pace
vsto stay in step with
29 3.5

Move at the same speed as someone or something

is about adapting to changes and not falling behind
to keep abreast of
vsto stay in step with
8 5.3

To stay informed about recent changes or news in a subject

focuses on active adjustment to change rather than just staying updated
to stay informed
vsto stay in step with
7 3.1

To keep up with the latest news and events

implies adjusting behavior to developments rather than only receiving news
to keep abreast
vsto stay in step with
4 5.6

To stay up to date with new information

stresses changing one's actions to match developments not just knowing them
to keep up with the times
vsto stay in step with
3 3.9

Stay modern by learning about new trends

is broader meaning to adapt generally to change not only trends
to keep step
vsto stay in step with
1 3.2

Move at the same pace as other people when walking or marching

is about adapting to changing developments rather than literal synchronized movement

Antonyms

out of touch
92 4.9

Not aware of recent events or people's feelings

to fall behind
70 2.8

To not keep up with others or a schedule

How In Step

to lead
∞ 1.0
to stay in step with
1 3.9
to keep up
507 2.8

Surface Forms

stay in step with infinitive
stayed in step with past
stayed in step with past participle
staying in step with present participle
stays in step with third person singular

Morphology

stay + in + step + with

The meaning 'to keep pace with' maps clearly onto the literal image of taking steps in time with something; a learner who knows 'stay', 'in', 'step', and 'with' can plausibly infer that it means to remain aligned or move at the same pace. However, the phrase is a conventionalized, slightly metaphorical collocation rather than a purely literal composition, so full understanding may require some exposure.

Etymology

Stay in step with comes from the image of people marching side by side. To stay at the same step as someone means you walk in time and do not fall behind. So it now means 'to keep pace with' or 'not fall behind'.