step

STEP/stɛp/

Pluralsteps

Verbsteps, stepping, stepped

26 meanings of step

Practice

1
process stagenouncountable
One part of a job or process that you do in order.
Like one part of a recipe you do in order.
Mixing the flour is the first step in making bread.
Follow each step in order to build the model.
UsageSay the first step, the next step, or step by step.
Similarstage, phase, part
2
walking movenouncountable
A single movement of one foot when you walk or run.
Like a single beat in a steady walk.
He took one step forward and then stopped.
Each step brought her closer to the front door.
UsageTake a step forward. Watch your step means walk carefully.
Similarpace, stride, footstep
Note
3
walk a littleverbintransitive
To move by lifting your foot and putting it down somewhere, or to walk a short way.
Please step back from the edge of the platform.
She stepped carefully over the broken glass.
UsageSay step onto, step back, step on. Write stepped and stepping.
Similarwalk, tread
Note
4
action toward goalnouncountable
An action you take to deal with something or reach a goal.
Locking the door is a smart step to stay safe.
The school took steps to keep students healthy.
UsageSay take steps to do something.
Similarmeasure, move, action, initiative
Note
5
stairnouncountable
A flat place to put your foot when going up or down, like a stair, ladder rung or bus step.
Like one stair in a long staircase.
She tripped on the bottom step of the staircase.
Hold the rail and watch each step as you climb.
Similarstair, rung, tread
6
short distancenouncountable
How far one step takes you, or any short distance.
The store is just a step from my house.
The park is only a step away from school.
UsageSay something is a step away when it is very close.
7
go awayverbslangintransitive
To leave a place or go away.
Like quietly leaving a room before anyone notices.
It's getting late, so I'm going to step.
This party is boring, so we're about to step.
UsageYou do not need to say where you are going: I gotta step.
Similarleave, go (entry), split, bounce
Oppositestay, arrive
Note

Less common meanings

8
advance graduallyverbtransitive
To move a process forward slowly, one part at a time.
The teacher stepped the class through each part of the problem.
The engineers step up the power a little at a time.
Similarramp, increase, advance
9
stool laddernouncountableplural
A movable set of small stairs used indoors to reach high places.
Fetch the steps so I can reach the top cupboard.
She climbed the steps to change the light bulb.
UsageSay a set of steps, or a stepladder.
Similarstepladder, ladder
10
partner's childnouncolloquialcountable
An informal word for a stepchild, stepbrother or stepsister.
Between my own kids and my steps, we have six children.
All of my steps came home for Thanksgiving this year.
Note
11
footprintnouncountable
A mark left by a foot on the ground.
His steps were still clear in the fresh snow.
They followed the steps left in the snow back home.
Similarfootprint, track, print, footstep
12
way of walkingnouncountable
The way a person walks.
She walked into the room with a happy step.
You could tell he was tired from his slow step.
UsageSay someone has a spring in their step when they feel happy.
Similargait, stride, tread, walk
13
one move (games)nouncountable
A single move from one place to another, such as a piece in a game or a cursor on a screen.
Like moving one square forward on a board game.
In the game, the snake moves one step each time you press a key.
Press the arrow key, and the cursor moves one step to the right.
Similarstride, move, pace
Note
14
music intervalnouncountable
In music, the distance from one note to the next note beside it.
Like moving up one small notch from one note to the next.
Each step on the scale raises the note a little.
The melody climbs three steps before falling back.
UsageIn the US, people say half step. In Britain, people say semitone.
Note
15
confrontverbslangintransitive
To act in a way that starts a fight or challenge.
Like puffing up your chest to start a fight.
Nobody wanted to step to the new kid after that fight.
Don't step to me unless you want trouble.
UsageSay step to someone. Step off means back down.
Similarconfront, challenge
16
in the mindverbfigurativelyintransitive
To travel somewhere in your mind or imagination.
Like your mind taking a walk while your body stays still.
She steps back into her childhood whenever she hears that song.
We step into the past as we read the old letters.
UsageSay step into a story or a dream.
Similarventure, wander, travel, journey
17
math intervalnouncountable
In math, the fixed amount added between one value and the next in a series.
Like counting by twos, where every jump is the same size.
The numbers 3, 6, 9, and 12 go up with a step of three.
The numbers grow by a step of ten each time.
UsageSay a step of two.
Similarincrement, interval
Note
18
danceverbintransitive
To move your feet in time with music while dancing.
Like moving your feet in time with a song.
They step gracefully across the floor as the music plays.
They stepped in time to the music all night long.
UsageSay step to the beat.
Similardance, move
Note
19
stamping dancenoununcountable
A style of dance built around loud, rhythmic footwork and body sounds.
Like making music using only your feet, hands, and voice.
The team rehearses step every evening before the big show.
Audiences love the loud, sharp stamping of good step.
UsagePeople also call it stepping.
20
spade foot restnouncountable
The flat top edge of a spade where your foot pushes down to dig.
Like the flat ledge where your foot pushes a shovel into the ground.
She pressed her boot against the step and drove the spade into the soil.
The old spade had a worn step from years of digging.
Similartread
21
noun
One of several flat levels on a part shaped like a small staircase.
22
noun
A block or socket that holds the bottom end of an upright shaft or a ship's mast.
23
verb
To set the bottom of a mast firmly into its base on a boat.
24
noun
A little bump of glass between a wine glass's stalk and its base.
25
noun
A walk or a trip from one place to another.
26
noundialectalNetherlands
A scooter you push with your foot.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of step apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–9, 11–20

From Old English steppan, meaning "to step" or "go forward." It goes back to older Germanic roots, and probably further to Proto-Indo-European.

Meaning 10

A short form of stepchild and stepsibling.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Step is a short form of stepchild and stepsibling. en.wiktionary.org