1
as in walking
to go on foot
I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in dancing
to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music
she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in rushing
to proceed or move quickly
many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stepping
Many spots offer reserved seating, VIP tables, and group packages, creating the perfect setting to experience the excitement without stepping inside the stadium.
—
Nasha Smith, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Newspaper reporters and photographers had already assembled en masse, stepping around the body while taking notes and photos, preparing to breathlessly report in print and on the radio every detail of the scene as well as Hansen and Brown’s first observations.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
The program grapples with the growing desire to disconnect, the impossibility of ever truly logging off, and the inherent privilege of stepping offline.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Newmark valued Knobel’s condos facing Interstate 70 higher than the plaintiffs’ more desirable condos facing Vail Mountain, according to the lawsuit, which says Newmark valued the plaintiffs’ units far lower than other appraisers and appraised them without stepping foot inside.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Crossing the threshold felt like stepping through a portal.
—Maggie Downs, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Research shows stepping away from work – especially when left with no alternatives – can be both emotionally and financially stressful for women.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
In Nero’s time, stepping onto the stage degraded the emperor’s role.
—Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
On Facebook, Wohlfeil announced Gusho is stepping away from the business.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Nasha Smith, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Newspaper reporters and photographers had already assembled en masse, stepping around the body while taking notes and photos, preparing to breathlessly report in print and on the radio every detail of the scene as well as Hansen and Brown’s first observations.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
The program grapples with the growing desire to disconnect, the impossibility of ever truly logging off, and the inherent privilege of stepping offline.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Newmark valued Knobel’s condos facing Interstate 70 higher than the plaintiffs’ more desirable condos facing Vail Mountain, according to the lawsuit, which says Newmark valued the plaintiffs’ units far lower than other appraisers and appraised them without stepping foot inside.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Crossing the threshold felt like stepping through a portal.
—Maggie Downs, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Research shows stepping away from work – especially when left with no alternatives – can be both emotionally and financially stressful for women.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
In Nero’s time, stepping onto the stage degraded the emperor’s role.
—Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
On Facebook, Wohlfeil announced Gusho is stepping away from the business.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping
Verb
-
In 2020, James’ wife, Yesenia, and unborn daughter, Adalyn, were hit by a drunk driver while the family was out walking in Anaheim, as previously reported by NBC 4.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Refrain from entering water that may have electricity in it and avoid walking through floodwaters.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Auroras — Crown of Light by Kavan Chay Photographer Kavan Chay took this spectacular image of a red, green and yellow aurora dancing through the starry sky above Tumbledown Bay in New Zealand on May 10, 2024 during a category G5 geomagnetic storm.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Some of these videos showcase previous successes, such as a clip showing an 8-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl dancing together on snowboards.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Plus-size segment remains underserved by apparel market Mallorie Dunn, a professor of fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and owner of SmartGlamour, a clothing line that offers the smallest and largest sizes, worries about the apparel retail market rushing to conclusions.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
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Why are fans rushing to see this movie?—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Photo courtesy of Toyota The RAV4 is more chiseled and edgy, treading the line between utility and mainstream styling.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Another third is treading water, while the last third is still expanding.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Before the new regulations, says Annie Inglis, Marine Biology Presenter with Quark, the expedition crew would be hurrying to get guests in Zodiacs to try to get closer to a bear sighting like this.—
Cassidy Randall,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Things won't get any easier for Flacco next week with the Browns traveling to Baltimore to play the Ravens, who typically always have a top-10 caliber defense.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In February, more than 40 people were killed in southern Mexico when a bus traveling to Tabasco from the tourist city of Cancun hit a trailer truck and caught fire.—
Lizbeth Diaz,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Yankees are better with Volpe on the roster, so Boone is going to continue trotting him out there as long as his shoulder is playable.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Sophie Turner is set to headline Prime Video’s upcoming Tomb Raider series, stepping into the role of the iconic globe-trotting archaeologist.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The sterile cockpit rule prohibits pilots from engaging in conversations unrelated to operating the aircraft when flying below 10,000 feet.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Perhaps the easiest was an airplane flying overhead.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stepping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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