26984 words

step

36 definitions • 64 examples
1
to move by lifting your foot and putting it down in a different place, or to put your foot on or in something:

Examples:

step backwards She stepped backwards and fell over a chair.
step out They stepped out onto the balcony.
step in Be careful not to step in the mud.
step on Ow, you stepped on my foot!
mainly US Sorry but Mr Taylor has just stepped (= gone) out for a few minutes, but I'll tell him you called.
formal Step this way please, sir.
2
a stage in a process:

Examples:

What's the next step in the process?
step ahead We must stay one step ahead of our competitors.
step in the right direction Most people believe that the decision to cut interest rates was a step in the right direction.
a/one step at a time Let's take things a step/one step at a time (= slowly).
next step Following the success of our products in Europe, our logical next step is to move into the American market.
3

Examples:

take a step The country is taking its first tentative steps towards democracy.
take a step to We need to take drastic steps to reduce pollution.
take the step of The president took the unusual step of altering his prepared speech in order to condemn the terrorist attack.
4
dealing with one thing and then another thing in a fixed order:

Examples:

step-by-step instructions
5
one of the surfaces that you walk on when you go up or down stairs:

Examples:

a flight of steps
climb a step We had to climb some steps to reach the front door.
(front) step I asked them to leave the parcel on the (front) step (= outside the door to the house).
mind the step Mind the step as you leave the train.
negotiate a step It's difficult for people in wheelchairs to negotiate (= move up and down) steps.
step on One of the steps on the ladder is broken.
6
another word for

Examples:

7
the act of lifting one foot and putting it down on a different part of the ground, such as when you walk or run:

Examples:

take a step Sophie took her first steps when she was eleven months old.
take a step towards He rose to his feet and took a couple of steps towards her.
with a step With every step, her feet hurt her more and more.
retrace your steps I retraced my steps, looking for my lost keys.
8
the distance you cover when you take a step:

Examples:

I'd only gone a few steps when I realized I'd forgotten to lock the door.
9
the way you move your feet when you are walking or running, which can sometimes show how you are feeling:

Examples:

a spring in someone's step She walked out of the office with a spring in her step (= in a way that showed she was happy).
mind/watch your step The driver told us to mind/watch our step (= walk carefully) as we got off the bus.
10
a particular movement that you make with your feet when you dance:

Examples:

dance step She's teaching me some basic dance steps.
11
When people walk in step, they lift their feet off the ground and put them down again at the same time:

Examples:

The soldiers marched in step.
12
used to say that opinions, ideas, or ways of living that are the same as those of other people:

Examples:

keep in step with Television companies need to keep in step with public opinion.
13
When someone is out of step, they do not lift the same foot and put it down again at the same time as other people:

Examples:

I'm no good at dancing - I always get completely out of step.
14
used to say that opinions, ideas, or ways of living that are different from those of other people:

Examples:

out of step with The Republicans are out of step with the country, Williams said.
15
the difference in pitch between two notes that are next to each other in the western musical scale
16
used with nouns showing a family relationship to show that the person is not your biological (= related by birth) relative, but is part of your stepfamily (= a family that is formed by two people and the child or children of one or both of them from a previous relationship):

Examples:

He has recently remarried and now has three stepchildren and a step-grandson.
They have a stepsister and stepbrother nearly their own age from their father's second marriage.
His parents had divorced when he was young, and he grew up with his mother, half-sister and stepfather.
17
to lift one foot and put it down in front of the other foot, as in walking or running:

Examples:

He stepped to his left, picked up the ball, and threw.
18
a stage in a process:

Examples:

The first step in fixing our house is to put on a new roof.
Let’s make these changes carefully, a step at a time.
19
one action in a series, taken for a particular purpose:

Examples:

As a first step, both sides agreed to a cease-fire.
20
a flat surface on which you put your foot when going up or down from one level to another:

Examples:

Mom took a picture of us sitting on the front steps of the house.
21
the largest difference in sound between two notes next to each other in a musical scale (= series of notes):

Examples:

Tones in a scale are arranged in steps and half steps.
22
the act of lifting one foot and putting it down in front of the other foot, as in walking or running:

Examples:

He took a couple of steps into the room.
23
A step is the distance covered by one step:

Examples:

I’d only gone about three steps before I fell.
24
A step is also the sound of making such a movement:

Examples:

I heard my father’s step on the stairs.
25
A step is also a particular movement that you make with your feet when you dance:

Examples:

I’ve finally learned some dance steps.
26
If you move in step with someone , you move your feet at the same time and in the same way:

Examples:

Three angry women marched in step down the hall.
27
to do someone else's work when they are unable to do it:

Examples:

Bill's illness meant that Kathy had to step into the breach.
28
used to tell someone to drive faster or to hurry:

Examples:

Could you step on it? I'm late.
If we want to get these orders out on time, we're going to have to step on it.
29
to behave in a way that is unacceptable or not expected:

Examples:

If he steps out of line, he could be fired.
30
a stage in a process:

Examples:

the first/next step What's the first step in the programme?
Following the success of our products in Europe, the logical next step is to move into the American market.
a step ahead/behind We have to stay a step ahead of our competitors.
31

Examples:

take steps to do sth We need to take drastic steps to reduce pollution.
32
having opinions or ideas that are the same as those of other people:

Examples:

keep/stay in step with sth/sb Television companies need to keep in step with public opinion.
33
having opinions or ideas that are different from those of other people:

Examples:

out of step with sth/sb Our supervisor seems to be out of step with the rest of management.
34

Examples:

If we do this one step at a time we won't make any mistakes.
35
dealing with one thing and then another thing in a fixed order:

Examples:

Don't worry - I'll go through the procedure with you step by step.
She gave me detailed step-by-step instructions.
36

Examples:

This may not be a complete solution, but it's a step forward.
Most people believe that the decision to cut interest rates was a step in the right direction.

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