as in intensified
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
candidates stepping up their campaigns as election day draws near stepped up the pace to catch up with the others
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Recent Examples of stepped up
Instead, Santiago Espinal stepped up to the plate as a pinch-hitter.
—
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
This week, Jennifer Lopez stepped up her style game for the New York City premiere of her new Netflix romantic comedy Office Romance, and Kerry Washington sparkled in gold at the 2026 Gotham TV Awards — and that's just the beginning.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
In Hong Kong, police stepped up security Thursday to prevent any commemoration at or near a park where a massive candlelight vigil lit up the night every year until a clampdown following major anti-government protests in 2019.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
It should be pointed out that Machado has stepped up to take plenty of blame in 2026.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
In the bottom half of the inning, Gasparino stepped up to the plate, with the bases empty this time, and drilled an opposite-field home run to take a 3-2 lead.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 31 May 2026
Now, Fatu is feuding with Reigns on Raw, and Gunther has immediately stepped up as a serious threat to Rhodes’ WWE title.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
The person sitting between Sajani and Suvali, Reshma, stepped up to be Sasmita.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Then, late in the year, Fitzpatrick was injured and Trader stepped up to give that role a shot.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
This week, Jennifer Lopez stepped up her style game for the New York City premiere of her new Netflix romantic comedy Office Romance, and Kerry Washington sparkled in gold at the 2026 Gotham TV Awards — and that's just the beginning.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
In Hong Kong, police stepped up security Thursday to prevent any commemoration at or near a park where a massive candlelight vigil lit up the night every year until a clampdown following major anti-government protests in 2019.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
It should be pointed out that Machado has stepped up to take plenty of blame in 2026.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
In the bottom half of the inning, Gasparino stepped up to the plate, with the bases empty this time, and drilled an opposite-field home run to take a 3-2 lead.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 31 May 2026
Now, Fatu is feuding with Reigns on Raw, and Gunther has immediately stepped up as a serious threat to Rhodes’ WWE title.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
The person sitting between Sajani and Suvali, Reshma, stepped up to be Sasmita.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Then, late in the year, Fitzpatrick was injured and Trader stepped up to give that role a shot.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up
Verb
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While trust in the program may be damaged due to the case against one of their colleagues, the staff in recent days has only intensified their presence in communities, Mavronis said.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
In a recent report BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, said pressure on BYD’s profit margins had intensified.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
White Whale Dirty Martini At White Whale in Las Vegas, the White Whale Dirty Martini is a spirit-forward martini enhanced with a robust, unfiltered olive oil fat wash.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
The comedy of that isn’t undermined by the terror of Patricia’s plight; it’s enhanced by it.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
That sense of contrast was further heightened by the building’s formidable history.—
Aditi Sharma,
Architectural Digest,
13 June 2026
-
Exercise heightened caution during this period.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The sheer scale of COVID’s spread has vastly deepened science’s understanding of the ways that viruses continue to affect the human body long after the initial illness has passed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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Often, the difficulties in interacting with them will only become apparent once the relationship has deepened.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Zelenskyy also informed Trump about how Ukraine's position along the eastern front line has improved and strengthened.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
Recent policy developments have further strengthened California’s position in the emerging fusion sector.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The suits were consolidated into one lawsuit in January 2025.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
-
Sandra Pellegrini, senior analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Projects, or ACLD, said recent clashes among gangs do not necessarily signal a collapse of Viv Ansanm, which took shape in September 2023 and consolidated its power in February 2024.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stepped up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20up. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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