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step

Pronunciation: /stɛp/
Translate step | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of step

noun

  • 1an act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running:Ron took a step back she turned and retraced her steps
  • the distance covered by a step:Richard came a couple of steps nearer
  • [usually in singular] a person’s particular way of walking:she left the room with a springy step
  • each of the sequences of movement of the feet which make up a dance.
  • a short or easily walked distance:the market is only a short step from the lake
  • 2a flat surface, especially one in a series, on which to place one’s foot when moving from one level to another:the bottom step of the staircase a flight of marble steps
  • a doorstep:there was a pint of milk on the step
  • a rung of a ladder.
  • (steps or a pair of steps) British a stepladder: the steps are in the outhouse
  • [mass noun] step aerobics: [as modifier]:a step class
  • Climbing a foothold cut in a slope of ice.
  • 3a measure or action, especially one of a series taken in order to deal with or achieve a particular thing:the government must take steps to discourage age discrimination a major step forward in the fight against terrorism
  • a stage in a gradual process:sales are up, which is a step in the right direction
  • a particular position or grade on an ascending or hierarchical scale:the first step on the managerial ladder
  • 4 Music, North American an interval in a scale; a tone (whole step) or semitone (half step).
  • 5 Physics an abrupt change in the value of a quantity, especially voltage.
  • 6a block fixed to a boat’s keel in order to take the base of a mast or other fitting.

verb (steps, stepping, stepped)

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial] lift and set down one’s foot or one foot after the other in order to walk somewhere or move to a new position:Claudia tried to step back I accidentally stepped on his foot
  • [as imperative] used as a polite or deferential way of asking someone to walk a short distance for a particular purpose:please step this way
  • (step it) dated perform a dance:they stepped it down the room between the lines of dancers
  • take a particular course of action:he stepped out of retirement to answer an SOS call from his old club
  • 2 [with object] Nautical set up (a mast) in its step.

Phrases

break step

stop walking or marching in step with others: they walked past me without even breaking step

fall into step

change the way one is walking so that one is walking in step with another person: Paul fell into step beside Bill

in (or out of) step

putting (or not putting) one’s feet forward alternately in the same rhythm as the people one is walking, marching, or dancing with.
conforming (or not conforming) to what others are doing or thinking:the party is clearly out of step with voters
Physics (of two or more oscillations or other cyclic phenomena) having (or not having) the same frequency and always in the same phase: many oscillations trace out the same pattern but necessarily in step

follow (or tread) in someone's steps

do as someone else did, especially in making a journey or following a career: many of these youngsters hoped to follow in the steps of Gascoigne

keep step

remain walking, marching, or dancing in step: they marched up and down the parade ground, keeping step with the regimental band

mind (or watch) one's step

used as a warning to someone to walk or act carefully: you’d better watch your step with him—he’s not as innocent as he looks mind your step—the path’s a bit steep

one step ahead

managing to avoid competition or danger from someone or something:I try to keep one step ahead of the rest of the staff

step by step

so as to progress gradually and carefully from one stage to the next:I’ll explain it to you step by step [as modifier]:a step-by-step guide

step into the breach

see breach.

step into someone's shoes

take control of a task or job from another person: he failed to notice the ambitious young men waiting to step into his shoes

step on it (or step on the gas)

informal go faster, typically in a motor vehicle: if we don’t step on it, the pub will have closed for the afternoon

step on someone's toes

see tread on someone's toes at tread.

step out of line

behave inappropriately or disobediently: if you step out of line once more you’re fired!

step up to the plate

North American take action in response to an opportunity or crisis.

Phrasal Verbs

step aside

another way of saying step down.

step back

mentally withdraw from a situation in order to consider it objectively: I have had to step back and take an honest look at my way of working

step down

withdraw or resign from an important position or office:he stepped down as party leader

step something down

decrease voltage by using a transformer.

step forward

offer one’s help or services:a company has stepped forward to sponsor the team

step in

become involved in a difficult situation, especially in order to help: palace officials asked the government to step in
act as a substitute for someone:Lucy stepped in at very short notice to take Joan’s place

step out

  • 1leave a room or building for a short time: Mrs Giraud has had to step out for a while, but make yourself at home
  • 2North American informal go out with:he was stepping out with a redheaded waitress
  • 3walk with long or vigorous steps:she enjoyed the outing, stepping out manfully

step out on

US informal be sexually unfaithful to: your mama says Joe is stepping out on you with that strumpet Viola Stokes

step something up

  • 1increase the amount, speed, or intensity of something:police decided to step up security plans for the match
  • 2increase voltage using a transformer.

Derivatives

step-like

adjective

Origin:

Old English stæpe, stepe (noun), stæppan, steppan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch steppen and German stapfen

step in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of step in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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