as in intensifying
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 stepping up
Kurt's key takeaways Apple Watch is stepping up in a big way.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
With China stepping up military activity near the island, fears are rising that tensions could spiral into conflict, right on their doorstep.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Doak joined from Celtic as a 16-year-old and started well for the U18s before stepping up to the U21s and also impressing.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Across the country, states and local communities are stepping up, forming coalitions and launching plans to address their specific risks.
—Karen Cohn, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
With China stepping up military activity near the island, fears are rising that tensions could spiral into conflict, right on their doorstep.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Doak joined from Celtic as a 16-year-old and started well for the U18s before stepping up to the U21s and also impressing.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Across the country, states and local communities are stepping up, forming coalitions and launching plans to address their specific risks.
—Karen Cohn, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping up
Verb
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Like all good bistros, this one serves a roast chicken as burnished as a penny, uncharacteristically earthy and sweet thanks to the funky, flavor-intensifying power of koji.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
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Apple didn’t explain its reasoning behind the decision, but the market for satellite-to-phone service is intensifying.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As well as job displacement, AI risks deepening wealth inequality—concentrating the gains among those who own or are able to leverage its abilities, while throwing the remainder into the same basket of the formerly employable unemployed.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Instead, officials reinforce colonial subordination while deepening the vulnerability of immigrant communities.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But while there is a greater focus on creating differentiated, high-value experiences that customers deeply value, technology investments aimed at enhancing customer experience often fail to meet expectations.—
Rajiv Shesh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Government policies focused on both mitigating carbon emissions and enhancing energy independence are also making headway in some locations.—
Michael Oxman,
The Conversation,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Hill’s Niall Stanage writes that the shocking killing of Kirk is heightening fears over the nation’s path.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
11 Sep. 2025
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Six Chinese nationals were recently detained in Subic Bay on espionage charges, further heightening mistrust.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Building and strengthening one-on-one relationships is the way to grow and defend yourself.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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Merrill even walked with two outs to bring the go-ahead run to the plate but Ryan O’Hearn struck out to end a loss that prevented the Padres from truly strengthening their postseason position.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stepping up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping%20up. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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