Step | Mean of step in English Dictionary

/ˈstɛp/

• Noun
• a movement made by lifting your foot and putting it down in a different place
1. counting our steps
2. She took one step forward/backward.
3. The baby took her first steps today.
4. He had to retrace his steps [=go back along the way he had come] to find his keys.
• the sound of a foot making a step
1. I heard steps on the stairs.
• the distance covered in one step
1. The edge of the cliff was only about three steps to my left.

• a short distance
1. The cottage is just steps from the beach.
• a mark left by a foot or shoe
1. steps in the sand
• the way that someone walks
1. He walks with a spring in his step.
2. She walked down the hall with a quick/light step.
• one of a series of actions that are done to achieve something
1. a major/important step towards independence
2. We are taking steps to correct the situation.
3. The court's decision is a step backward/forward for the reform movement. [=it is something that will hurt/help the reform movement]
4. Exercise won't solve all your health problems, but it's a step in the right direction. [=it will improve your health]
5. They're taking baby steps. [=they're doing minor things that produce only a small amount of progress toward achieving something]
• a stage in a process
1. We're in the first/intermediate/last steps of the negotiations.
2. She's one step nearer/closer to graduation.
3. I want to take it a step further. [=I want to move to the next stage in the process]
4. He was criticized at every step. = He was criticized every step of the way.
5. We'll guide you through the process step by step.
6. Let's take this one step at a time.
• a level or rank in a scale
1. a step above/below average
2. a step beyond what was expected
3. The new job is a step up/down for her. [=the new job is more/less important, challenging, etc., than the job she had before]
• the flat piece of wood, stone, etc., that forms one of the levels of a staircase
1. They sat on the steps in front of the house.
2. The top step [=stair] squeaks when you step on it.
• a movement or pattern of movements made by someone who is dancing
1. a ballet step
2. dance steps
• the distance from one tone of a musical scale to the next
1. The melody moves up/down a step.
2. The melody moves upward by step [=in a series of steps] from D to C.
• a piece of exercise equipment consisting of a small platform that you use by stepping on and off it
1. Working out with a step can be very rigorous.
• better prepared than (someone or something)
1. The teacher really has to work to keep one step ahead of the class.
2. She always seems to be one step ahead of me.
• able to avoid being caught or found by (someone or something)
1. So far the killer has managed to stay one step ahead of the police/law. [=managed to avoid being caught by the police]
• to stop walking or marching with the same rhythm as another person or group of people
1. The soldier was startled and broke step.
• to begin walking or marching with the same rhythm as another person or group of people
1. He fell into step beside her and struck up a conversation.
• with the same rhythm as someone or something
1. They walked in step down the avenue.
2. We danced in step with the music.
• matching or agreeing with someone or something
1. She's in step with people her age. [=she has the same ideas, problems, etc., as other people her age]
2. The practice is not in step with modern morality.
• to walk carefully
1. It's slippery, so watch your step.
• to speak or behave carefully
1. You'd better watch your step with me, young lady.
• not moving with the same rhythm as someone or something
1. One of the dancers was out of step.
• not matching or agreeing with someone or something
1. Her fashion sense is completely out of step.
2. She's out of step with current fashion.
3. Critics say the rule is out of step with the times. [=the rule does not agree with the ideas that are popular or important now]
• Verb
• to move in a specified direction by lifting your foot and putting it down in a different place
1. The sailor stepped ashore.
2. She stepped onto/off the bus.
3. They stepped aside/forward/backward to let her pass.
4. Please step away from the door.
5. He stepped outside for a moment.
6. Step in/into my office for a minute.
• to put your foot down
1. He accidentally stepped on a nail.
2. She stepped in a puddle.
• to leave a job or official position
1. He stepped down [=resigned] as president.
2. She'll step aside after her replacement is appointed.
• to stop doing something or being actively involved in something for a time so that you can think about it and make decisions in a calm and reasonable way
1. You need to step back and give yourself some time to work through this.
• to give or offer help, information, etc.
1. A witness stepped forward to identify the robber.
• to become involved in an activity, discussion, etc., in order to prevent trouble or provide help
1. He stepped in and took charge.
2. She stepped in before a fight could start.
• to take a particular role or do a particular task
1. She stepped into the role/position of director.
2. She's retiring, and it won't be easy to find someone who can step into her shoes. [=fill her shoes; who can do her job]
• to drive faster
1. Step on it, they're getting away!
• to briefly leave a place
1. I need to step out [=pop out] for a moment.
2. She just stepped out to get some milk.
• to disobey rules or behave badly
1. If you step out of line, you'll get kicked off the bus.
• to increase in amount or speed
1. Production has stepped up in recent months.
• to say openly or publicly that you are the person who should get something or who can do something
1. No one yet has stepped up to claim responsibility.
• to do better
1. The team's best player is injured, so someone else needs to step up.
• to increase the amount or speed of (something)
1. The company has stepped up production.
• to improve (something)
1. The other players need to step up their performance.