one-step

noun

ˈwən-ˌstep How to pronounce one-step (audio)
1
: a ballroom dance in ²/₄ time marked by quick walking steps backward and forward
2
: music used for the one-step
one-step intransitive verb

Examples of one-step in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This cannot be a one-step solution. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Almost all of the studies treated reappraisal as a one-step process. — Christian Waugh, The Conversation, 12 May 2026 This one-step recipe is party-ready after two or three minutes in the food processor. — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 July 2026 That simple one-step approach appealed to Ulta. — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for one-step

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-step was in 1911

Rhymes for one-step

See All Rhymes for one-step

Browse Nearby Words

ones place
one-step
one-stop
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“One-step.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-step. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on one-step

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about one-step

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All