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step

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noun American English pronunciation: step /step/ 
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singularstep
pluralsteps
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [countable] a short movement made by putting one foot in front of the other
    take/move a step:

    I am too tired to take another step.

    He moved a step nearer the two men.

    retrace your steps (=go back the same way you came):

    We were lost and decided to retrace our steps.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of step
    1. a.
      the sound that your feet make while you are walking

      I could hear his steps coming closer.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of step
    2. b.
      the short distance that your feet move while you are walking

      The mini-market is just a few steps from my front door.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of step
  2. 2
    [countable] a particular movement or set of movements performed with your feet when you are dancing
    dance step:

    Juan was practicing his new dance steps for the competition.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of step
  3. 3
    [singular] the particular way that someone walks, that sometimes shows how they are feeling
    a spring in your step (=a quick and cheerful attitude in the way you walk):

    He felt fantastic and there was a new spring in his step.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of step
  4. 4
    [countable] one of a series of actions that you do in order to achieve a particular goal
    step in:

    This new law is the first step in making our city safer.

    step toward:

    This agreement is an important step toward our goal.

    a step along the way/road:

    For Jack, this job was a mere step along the road to power.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of step
    See also  right2
  5. 5
    [countable] a flat piece of wood or stone, usually one in a series, that you walk up or down in order to move to a different level

    I met him on the front steps of his house.

    The woman took them down some steps leading to the beach.

    a flight of steps (=a long set of steps):

    I climbed a flight of steep narrow steps.

    the foot of the steps:

    waiting at the foot of the basement steps

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of step
  6. 6
    [countable] one of the stages in a process, or one of the levels on a scale

    steps in your learning process

    a step up:

    Her new job is a big step up for her.

    a step up on the pay scale

    be a/one step ahead of someone:

    She was congratulating herself on her intelligence, but he was one step ahead of her.

    repeat a step:

    When you finish the exercise, repeat steps five to ten.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of step

phrases

This is the American English definition of step. View British English definition of step.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

View the pronunciation for step.

 

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