stepping out

verb

present participle of step out
1
as in screwing around
to be sexually unfaithful if she catches him stepping out on her, she'll divorce him without a moment's hesitation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in dying
to stop living my greedy relatives are only being nice to me because they expect me to step out any time now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mixing
to take part in social activities waited until a year after her husband's death before stepping out again

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 out Embracing the playful energy of the runway, Nadin said a prayer before stepping out. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 There’s something very nice about stepping out on a terrace right in the heart of bustling Vancouver to feel the crisp Pacific Northwest air. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 But the real risk shows up when leaders let professionals get too comfortable stepping out of the loop instead of staying engaged in the judgment and review the work still requires. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 The Paradise actress’ flashy pants rivaled the necklace’s aura, stepping out in a look from Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Balenciaga F/W 26 haute couture collection. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 In a dash camera video shared by police, an officer can be seen stepping out quickly from a patrol vehicle as Ross was seen running in the street. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026 Videos on the nonprofit’s website show children stepping out of luxury buses, walking between camp volunteers who welcome them with applause and cheers. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026 Lena Dunham was spotted in the back of an SUV, while producer Jack Antonoff was photographed by paparazzi stepping out in an oversized black blazer and matching slacks. — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026 The couple enjoyed a date night in New York City, stepping out for dinner at Bourbon Steak New York. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping out
  1. screwing around
  2. dying
  3. mixing
  4. cheating
  5. checking out
  6. mingling
  7. falling
  8. going out
Verb
  • The informative thing was Lestat screwing around with me.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 June 2026
  • Mercedes is truly not screwing around with the new EQS.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of screwing around
Verb
  • At the sites of deadly accidents, people have reported the sound of a pickaxe or the groans of a dying man.
    — Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Bart cries wolf the morning after dreaming about dying in a bus crash, but no one believes him.
    — Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of dying
Verb
  • Emily Ratajkowski has been keeping busy in Los Angeles, mixing daring mirror selfies with a little romance.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Kitchenette-style counters are perfect for mixing a drink before heading out, and every room comes outfitted with a Marshall amp mini fridge (this is Nashville, after all).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of mixing
Verb
  • With all respect to West’s previous cheating-on-television canon, War might be his finest adulterous work.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Wood was vindicated three years later, when a league investigation revealed the Astros had been cheating in 2017, stealing signs from a television monitor next to the dugout and relaying them to batters by banging on trash cans.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheating
Verb
  • Please adjust the total quantity of ‌iPhone Duo‌ in your order before checking out.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026
  • I'mPhaedra Trethan, checking out my colleague Trevor Hughes' Mad Max-Dune-steampunk visions from Burning Man.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of checking out
Verb
  • Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi continued their date night, mingling with fellow guests, including Timothée Chalamet, boyfriend of Jenner’s younger sister Kylie, who also attempted to go incognito in a baseball cap and baggy shorts.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Aristocrats built grand villas here in the 19th century, and the Belle Époque architecture remains, mingling with more modern homes with private beach access.
    — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of mingling
Verb
  • To make matters worse, Tesla’s profits have been falling while SpaceX’s bottom line is taking off.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • That means paying off your cards is more important than ever to avoid falling deeper into debt.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of falling
Verb
  • So states have been scrambling since the notifications began going out Tuesday to figure out where the DOJ plans to be.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But ultimately, there’s a commitment to that and going out there and executing.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of going out

Browse Nearby Words

stepping on it
stepping out
stepping up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stepping out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping%20out. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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