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
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Recent Examples of stepping
This portable lock box is especially helpful during beach days or café stops when stepping away from things feels like a gamble.
—
Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Even Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and an architect behind ChatGPT, makes a point of stepping away from technology altogether.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Always clear your shoes or boots with a solid stomp before stepping onto the mat.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
At the same time, stepping away from these online services for a short period could weaken consumers' dependency on them, which could lead to a sustained boycott.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
The experience of visiting After stepping off the ship, guests embark on a 5-minute ferry ride to the club, which sits to the northwest of the cruise port and is visible from the top deck of taller ships in port.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
These walks tend to be so short that most Siloers would never dream of stepping beyond the front door.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacey Davis Gates will be stepping away from her duties and going on a temporary medical leave, the union announced on Wednesday.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Even Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and an architect behind ChatGPT, makes a point of stepping away from technology altogether.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Always clear your shoes or boots with a solid stomp before stepping onto the mat.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
At the same time, stepping away from these online services for a short period could weaken consumers' dependency on them, which could lead to a sustained boycott.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
The experience of visiting After stepping off the ship, guests embark on a 5-minute ferry ride to the club, which sits to the northwest of the cruise port and is visible from the top deck of taller ships in port.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
These walks tend to be so short that most Siloers would never dream of stepping beyond the front door.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacey Davis Gates will be stepping away from her duties and going on a temporary medical leave, the union announced on Wednesday.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping
Verb
-
There was a woman in a camper on his property who had difficulty walking.—
Abrielle Kate Maddison,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Eventually, the officers spotted Brown and his girlfriend walking away from the section to the main hallway.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To mark the third anniversary of his death, Holker in December shared clips of the pair dancing together and photos of them with their children.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Whether at Artistic Edge Dance Centre in Hartland or on a competition stage, Jay Ramos-Rivera is constantly dancing.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He was seated in the bow, and the momentum of the raft pushed him into the alders, where a large branch swept him out of his seat and into the rushing water.—
Emilee Coblentz,
Outside,
11 Feb. 2026
-
For many of the workers who have spent the past several days rushing home, secure jobs and fair wages are clearly high on their wish list from the changing government.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bresland, the rescue commander, told the ABC the family was treading water in rough seas for hours and the mother managed to keep the other children with the paddleboard.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Surplus models represent both an opportunity and a potential trap for consumers looking to secure a bargain on a new vehicle, and brokers urged treading carefully.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meza Gonzalez and David Christian, one of her attorneys, refused to answer questions from reporters about the plea agreement, hurrying down a flight of stairs at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center.—
Megan Rodriguez,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But one weekend in November, people who would typically be hurrying by, staring down at their phones, stopped.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
For example, Grab uses AI to automate menu translations in its food delivery app, allowing customers to easily access restaurant menus, even when traveling abroad.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Terryville resident Chalaine Kilduff and her 2-year-old son Beckham were traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last December when, like many 2-year-olds, Beckham started to cry during a long travel day.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Coyotes were seen trotting across the frozen Charles River yesterday.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The area is so nationally notorious that the Border Patrol chose it to stage an invasion here in July, complete with a literal cavalry of agents trotting down a soccer field where kids usually play while National Guard troops sat inside armored Humvees on Wilshire Boulevard.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Wasserman has previously admitted to flying with Epstein on the financier’s private plane on a trip to Africa with Maxwell and former President Clinton.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Winter Olympic athletes, particularly those who compete in events that involve flying down a mountain or icy track at breakneck speeds, are not exactly known for self-preservation instincts.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stepping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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