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
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.
Recent Examples of stepping
The unit’s new plan centers on returning focus to its flagship Xbox console, which represents 80% of its business, funneling its content budget toward high-growth areas such as the Minecraft game, and stepping away from smaller studios.
—
Sebastian Herrera,
Fortune,
6 July 2026
Nolan now lives a relatively private life since stepping away from acting.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
6 July 2026
Balogun was red-carded, after a video review, for stepping on the ankle of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic while going for a ball.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
5 July 2026
Balogun, the Americans’ leading scorer with three goals, was shown a red card during Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of Tarik Muharemović.
—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
5 July 2026
Yet within moments of stepping outside, the appeal of Molde was obvious.
—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
With the majority of his players stepping onto a college campus for the first time, Turgeon knows the identity of this year’s team is still taking shape.
—
Christian Marshall,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2026
Thomas shoved Clark to the floor, and proceeded to put her fist into Clark's throat before stepping on her.
—
Zach Dean Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping off a flight still feeling comfortable and polished, which is exactly why the Lillusory Two-piece Lounge Set caught my eye.
—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
26 June 2026
Sebastian Herrera,
Fortune,
6 July 2026
Nolan now lives a relatively private life since stepping away from acting.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
6 July 2026
Balogun was red-carded, after a video review, for stepping on the ankle of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic while going for a ball.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
5 July 2026
Balogun, the Americans’ leading scorer with three goals, was shown a red card during Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of Tarik Muharemović.
—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
5 July 2026
Yet within moments of stepping outside, the appeal of Molde was obvious.
—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
With the majority of his players stepping onto a college campus for the first time, Turgeon knows the identity of this year’s team is still taking shape.
—
Christian Marshall,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2026
Thomas shoved Clark to the floor, and proceeded to put her fist into Clark's throat before stepping on her.
—
Zach Dean Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping off a flight still feeling comfortable and polished, which is exactly why the Lillusory Two-piece Lounge Set caught my eye.
—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping
Verb
-
There was a small card with a graphic that pictured Wiley walking in the middle of Bluey and Bingo, two characters from the show.
-
Cooler, crisp days make walking the hill towns, wine tasting and dining outdoors far more comfortable than in the baking summer.
Verb
-
Though the statement was initially shared alongside a video of the two of them dancing with their 5-year-old son, Mauz Mosley Muniz, the post was removed.
-
For years the company has pushed the frontier of what legged robots can do, taking inspiration from dancing, parkour, and gymnastics.
Verb
-
On the streets of Paris, editors and buyers have been rushing between shows fan-in-hand, from high-tech cooling devices to tried-and-true paper fans.
-
Hike in pristine wilderness, go for a dip in Lake Siskiyou or Castle Lake, or get on a rushing river with a local outfitter.
Verb
-
Initially, both teams looked to be treading carefully, wary of a misstep now in the knockout stage.
-
By treading lightly with finishes, opening up the loft area to more light, and getting clever with storage, Marie channeled the unit’s coastal locale, conjuring up an aesthetic lexicon that suggests the interior of a boat with its clean, functional lines.
Verb
-
Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
-
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.
Verb
-
Production runs from a Los Angeles home base plus two traveling studios that move to the best matches each day, borrowing the fanfest grammar of Big Noon Kickoff.
-
For those traveling in first class, the Coast Starlight offers a full dining car experience, with meals included throughout the journey.
Verb
-
The movie’s globe-trotting opening sequence features pirates, outlaws and a mummy used as toilet paper.
-
In true treasure hunting style, the movie is a globe-trotting adventure with stops in Bangkok, Vienna, Vatican City and Cairo as well as a brief visit to London.
Verb
-
Taylor loves her Easter eggs, and there are rumors flying that Madison Square Garden is simply a bold ploy to redirect fans’ (and the media’s) attention away from where her true nuptials will be.
-
So, at this point, the town of Calistoga doesn't seem willing to take a chance that flying cars will be showing up any time soon.
Cite this Entry
“Stepping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
