Stepping — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun phrase /ˈgüs-ˌstep/ (verb) /ˈwən-ˌstep/ (noun)

Meaning & Definition of Stepping

Stepping (verb)

  1. to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in succession
  2. dance
  3. to go on foot, walk
  4. to march in a goose step
  5. to practice an unthinking conformity
  6. to withdraw from one's position or occupation, step down
  7. to withdraw from one's position or occupation, retire, resign
  8. to lower (a voltage) by means of a transformer
  9. to decrease or reduce (something) especially by one or more steps
  10. to intervene in an affair or dispute
  11. to act as a replacement
  12. to make a brief informal visit
  13. to go away from a place usually for a short distance and for a short time
  14. to go or march at a vigorous or increased pace
  15. die

Stepping (noun)

  1. a stone on which to step (as in crossing a stream or following a path)
  2. a means of progress or advancement
  3. a very small step or advance in progress
  4. a ballroom dance in 2/4 time marked by quick walking steps backward and forward
  5. music used for the one-step

Stepping (phrase)

  1. to increase one's speed, hurry up; especially, to accelerate an automobile

Stepping (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go on foot

    "I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner"

    similar: ambulating, footing (it), hoofing (it), legging (it), padding, traipsing, treading, walking
    related: parading, promenading, marching, pacing, stepping out, striding, trooping, power walking, hiking, peregrinating, trekking, ambling, moseying, perambulating, rambling, sauntering, strolling, wandering, clumping, stomping, stumping, tramping, trampling, tromping, footslogging, plodding, trudging, gimping, hobbling, limping, mincing, prancing, pussyfooting, tiptoeing, bouncing, sashaying, stalking, strutting, swaggering, faltering, lumbering, lurching, pounding, scuffing, shambling, shuffling, staggering, stumbling, toddling, waddling, nipping, tapping, tripping, trotting

  2. to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music

    "she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor"

    similar: dancing, footing (it), hoofing (it), shaking a leg, tripping the light fantastic
    related: prancing, strutting, tripping, boogying, bopping, fox-trotting, gavotting, jigging, jitterbugging, jiving, mamboing, polkaing, shagging, shimmying, shuffling, tangoing, tap-dancing, twisting, waltzing, treading

  3. to proceed or move quickly

    "many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward"

    similar: barreling, belting, blasting, blazing, blowing, bolting, bombing (slang), bowling, breezing, bundling, bustling, buzzing, cannonballing, careening, careering, chasing, coursing, cracking (on), dashing, driving, flying, haring, hastening, highballing, hotfooting (it), humping, hurling, hurrying, hurtling, hustling, hying, jetting, jumping, motoring, nipping, pelting, racing, ramming, ripping, rocketing, running, rushing, rustling, scooting, scurrying, scuttling, shooting, speeding, tearing, traveling, trotting, whirling, whisking, zipping, zooming, beating it, getting a move on, making tracks, shaking a leg, stepping on it
    related: beetling, darting, flitting, scampering, scudding, scuffling, stampeding, streaking, whizzing, galloping, jogging, sprinting, accelerating, quickening, stepping out, catching up, fast-forwarding, outpacing, outrunning, outstripping, overtaking, arrowing, beelining
    opposite: crawling, creeping, poking
    near: dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, hanging (around or out), lagging, lingering, loitering, poking, tarrying, ambling, lumbering, plodding, sauntering, shuffling, strolling, decelerating, slowing (down or up)

Related Entry: Step (verb)

Step is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for step, not for stepping.

  1. to go on foot

    "I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner"

    similar: ambulate, foot (it), hoof (it), leg (it), pad, traipse, tread, walk
    related: parade, promenade, march, pace, step out, stride, troop, power walk, hike, peregrinate, trek, amble, mosey, perambulate, ramble, saunter, stroll, wander, clump, stomp, stump, tramp, trample, tromp, footslog, plod, trudge, gimp, hobble, limp, mince, prance, pussyfoot, tiptoe, bounce, sashay, stalk, strut, swagger, falter, lumber, lurch, pound, scuff, shamble, shuffle, stagger, stumble, toddle, waddle, nip, tap, trip, trot

  2. to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music

    "she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor"

    similar: dance, foot (it), hoof (it), shake a leg, trip the light fantastic
    related: prance, strut, trip, boogie, bop, fox-trot, gavotte, jig, jitterbug, jive, mambo, polka, shag, shimmy, shuffle, tango, tap-dance, twist, waltz, tread

  3. to proceed or move quickly

    "many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

Related Entry: Step (along) (verb)

Step (along) is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for step (along), not for stepping.

  1. to leave a place often for another

    "now that my ride's here, I'll be stepping along"

    similar: bail, bail out, begone, book (slang), bug off, bug out, bugger off (British slang), buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, go, go off, move, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, run along, sally (forth), scarper (British), shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out, beat it, hit the road, pull stakes, take a hike, take a powder
    related: set out, start, strike out, abscond, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, mizzle (chiefly British), run away, scat, scram, skip, go out, light out, step out, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate, emigrate, adjourn, remove, retire, retreat, withdraw
    opposite: arrive, come, show up, turn up
    near: abide, dwell, lodge, remain, settle, stay, tarry, approach, close, near, hit, land, reach

Related Entry: Stepping (on) (verb)

Stepping (on) is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for stepping (on), not for stepping.

  1. as in running over, running down

    similar: overriding, running down, running over, champing, stamping, stomping, tramping, trampling, tromping, mashing, pulping, smashing, squashing, squelching, booting, hoofing, kicking

Related Entry: Stepping down (noun)

Stepping down is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for stepping down, not for stepping.

  1. as in leave, retirement

    similar: abdication, departing, departure, exit, exiting, leave, leaving, quitting, resignation, retirement, relinquishment, renouncement, surrender
    opposite: acceptance, adoption, embrace, embracement, espousal

Related Entry: Stepping in (verb)

Stepping in is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for stepping in, not for stepping.

  1. to make a brief visit

    "I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class"

    similar: calling, coming by, coming over, dropping by, dropping in, popping (in), running in, running (over), stopping (by or in), visiting
    related: barging (in), looking up, seeing, bopping (into), happening (by), frequenting, hanging (at), haunting, resorting (to)

  2. to serve as a replacement usually for a time only

    "couldn't find anyone to step in for me so that I could take a break from my caregiving duties"

    similar: covering, filling in, pinch-hitting, standing in, subbing, substituting, taking over
    related: understudying, relieving, spelling, doubling (as)

Related Entry: Stepping out (verb)

Stepping out is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for stepping out, not for stepping.

  1. to be sexually unfaithful

    "if she catches him stepping out on her, she'll divorce him without a moment's hesitation"

    similar: cheating, philandering, screwing around
    related: catting (around), fooling around, fornicating, playing (around), tomcatting (around), womanizing, copulating, coupling, lying, making out, mating, sleeping, lusting

  2. to stop living

    "my greedy relatives are only being nice to me because they expect me to step out any time now"

    similar: checking out, conking (out), croaking (slang), deceasing, demising, departing, dropping, dying, ending, exiting, expiring, falling, flatlining, going, kicking in (slang), kicking off (slang), parting, passing away, passing (on), pegging out (chiefly British), perishing, popping off, succumbing, biting the dust, buying it, giving up the ghost, kicking the bucket, snuffing it (British)
    related: predeceasing, consuming, disappearing, drying up, fading, failing
    opposite: breathing, living
    near: coming to, reviving, lingering, being, existing, subsisting, flourishing, prospering, thriving

  3. to take part in social activities

    "waited until a year after her husband's death before stepping out again"

    similar: associating, fraternizing, going out, hobnobbing, mingling, mixing, socializing, rubbing elbows
    related: carousing, partying, reveling, circulating
    near: avoiding, eschewing, shunning, slighting, snubbing

Related Entry: Stepping up (verb)

Stepping up is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for stepping up, not for stepping.

  1. 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"

    similar: accentuating, amping (up), amplifying, beefing (up), boosting, consolidating, deepening, enhancing, heightening, intensifying, magnifying, redoubling, strengthening
    related: broadening, enlarging, expanding, extending, lengthening, accelerating, hastening, quickening, emphasizing, pointing (up), sharpening, stressing, augmenting, enforcing, reinforcing, restrengthening, supplementing, maximizing, enlivening, jazzing (up), aggravating, exacerbating
    opposite: abating, moderating
    near: decreasing, diminishing, lessening, letting up (on), reducing, subduing, toning (down), weakening, dwindling, receding, subsiding, tapering (off), waning, alleviating, easing, lightening

Related Entry: Stepping into (phrase)

Stepping into is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for stepping into, not for stepping.

  1. to go or come in or into

    "Please step into my office."

    similar: accessing, entering, penetrating, piercing, setting foot in
    related: barging (in), breezing (in), bursting (in or into), waltzing (in), dropping in, popping (in), straying (into), wandering (into), crashing, encroaching, gate-crashing, infiltrating, infringing, intruding, invading, trespassing
    opposite: departing, exiting, leaving

Related Entry: Stepping on it (phrase)

Stepping on it is a different word from Stepping. The synonyms below are for stepping on it, not for stepping.

  1. to proceed or move quickly

    "They were going to have to step on it if they wanted to make it before the bank closed."

    similar: barreling, belting, blasting, blazing, blowing, bolting, bombing (slang), bowling, breezing, bundling, bustling, buzzing, cannonballing, careening, careering, chasing, coursing, cracking (on), dashing, driving, flying, haring, hastening, highballing, hotfooting (it), humping, hurling, hurrying, hurtling, hustling, hying, jetting, jumping, motoring, nipping, pelting, racing, ramming, ripping, rocketing, running, rushing, rustling, scooting, scurrying, scuttling, shooting, speeding, stepping, tearing, traveling, trotting, whirling, whisking, zipping, zooming, beating it, getting a move on, making tracks, shaking a leg
    related: beetling, darting, flitting, scampering, scudding, scuffling, stampeding, streaking, whizzing, galloping, jogging, sprinting, accelerating, quickening, stepping out, catching up, fast-forwarding, outpacing, outrunning, outstripping, overtaking, arrowing, beelining
    opposite: crawling, creeping, poking
    near: dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, hanging (around or out), lagging, lingering, loitering, poking, tarrying, ambling, lumbering, plodding, sauntering, shuffling, strolling, decelerating, slowing (down or up)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Stepping

The most common words with a similar meaning to Stepping:

Slang: bombing
ambulating, footing (it), hoofing (it), legging (it), padding, traipsing, treading, walking, dancing, barreling, belting, blasting, blazing, blowing, bolting, bowling, breezing, bundling, bustling, buzzing, cannonballing, careening, careering, chasing, coursing, cracking (on), dashing, driving, flying, haring, hastening, highballing, hotfooting (it), humping, hurling, hurrying, hurtling, hustling, hying, jetting

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Stepping

Words with the opposite meaning of Stepping:

crawling, creeping, poking

Related Words for Stepping

parading, promenading, marching, pacing, stepping out, striding, trooping, power walking, hiking, peregrinating, trekking, ambling, moseying, perambulating, rambling, sauntering, strolling, wandering, clumping, stomping, stumping, tramping, trampling, tromping, footslogging, plodding, trudging, gimping, hobbling, limping

Near Antonyms of Stepping

dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, hanging (around or out), lagging, lingering, loitering, tarrying, ambling, lumbering, plodding, sauntering, shuffling, strolling, decelerating, slowing (down or up)

Word Forms of Stepping

Inflections: stepped, steps, stepping stones, stepping-stones, goose-stepped, goose-stepping, goose-steps, stepped aside, stepping aside, steps aside, stepped down, stepping down, steps down, stepped in, stepping in, steps in, stepped out, stepping out, steps out

Derived words: baby-step (verb, transitive + intransitive), one-step (intransitive verb)

Origin & Etymology of Stepping

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Words & Phrases Containing Stepping

stepping stone

Frequently Asked Questions about Stepping

What does "Stepping" mean?

"Stepping" means to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in succession. As an a verb, a noun and a phrase, it is defined as: to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in succession. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Stepping"?

Other words for "Stepping" include ambulating, footing (it), hoofing (it), legging (it), padding, traipsing, treading and walking. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Stepping" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Stepping"?

There are 159 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Stepping". Common alternatives include ambulating, footing (it), hoofing (it), legging (it), padding, traipsing, treading, walking, dancing and barreling.

What is the opposite of "Stepping"?

Antonyms of "Stepping" include crawling, creeping and poking. Near antonyms include dallying, dawdling, dillydallying and dragging.

How do you use "Stepping" in a sentence?

Examples of "Stepping" in a sentence: "I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner"; "she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor"; "many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward".

Is "Stepping" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Stepping" can be used as a verb, a noun and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Stepping"?

"Stepping" is pronounced /ˈgüs-ˌstep/ as a verb and /ˈwən-ˌstep/ as a noun.

What is the origin of the word "Stepping"?

First known use: before 12th centuryi.