step up

1 of 2

verb

stepped up; stepping up; steps up

transitive verb

1
: to increase, augment, or advance especially by one or more steps
The team really stepped up their performance.
The enemy stepped up their attacks.
He also plans to step up efforts to headhunt for the best and brightest …Jerry Garrett
Factory production was stepped up in an effort to meet helicopter shortfalls.Shelby L. Stanton
2
: to increase (a voltage) by means of a transformer
… the use of transformers to step up the voltage to very high levels …Thomas P. Hughes

intransitive verb

1
a
: to make the effort required to provide information, make a claim, volunteer, etc.
She stepped up to claim responsibility.
see also step up to the plate
b
: to succeed in meeting a challenge (as by increased effort or improved performance)
They just didn't have the guys to step up and make the big plays with the game on the line.Peter King
2
: to undergo an increase
Business is stepping up.
3
: to receive a promotion
She stepped up to the position of general manager.

step-up

2 of 2

noun

variants or step up
plural step-ups or step ups
: an increase or advance (as in size or amount) and especially one that is gradual or incremental
Lower inflation will minimize cost-of-living step-ups for Social Security recipients …Arthur M. Louis
This model will give them the quality step-up they want at a decent price …Len Feldman
"… We expect a gradual step up in sales each quarter as 2021 progresses, followed by an extended period of growth starting in 2022."Nick Stanage

Examples of step up in a Sentence

Verb candidates stepping up their campaigns as election day draws near stepped up the pace to catch up with the others
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Police in Hawaii have vowed to step up enforcement after one of the most serious mass shootings in that state's history happened last year at a cockfight where five people were shot, including two who died. CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024 Related article Ukraine hits oil refineries deep inside Russian territory, as Kyiv steps up drone attacks before Putin’s likely re-election In a Telegram video, an RDK fighter made an appeal to residents of Belgorod and Kursk. Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 West Bank militancy surges as Israel steps up raids and arrests The measures, which Israel says were taken for security reasons, have led to massive job losses, unpaid salaries and a steep drop in local production, according to the World Bank. Claire Parker, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 But there will be competition as other Asian governments also use entertainment to step up their soft power initiatives. Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024 Chinese officials and scholars have also stepped up denunciations of Western analysts who have forecast that China faces an era of decline. Chris Buckley, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 He’s learned how to really pitch, stay composed under pressure and step up in big moments. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Last season, fans witnessed Kourtney, 44, and Kim, 43, continue their ongoing fight over their Dolce & Gabbana ties, Khloé's complicated relationship with ex Tristan Thompson, Kim stepping up her acting career and Kourtney's pregnancy journey with husband Travis Barker. Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 That would mean both arming Ukraine better and stepping up Europe’s own military preparedness, expenditures, and arms production to build a long-term bulwark against potential Russian attack. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
Even with those caveats though, that’s a remarkable step-up for a heady, epic-length follow-up. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024 But in the presence of [section] 1014 and the step-up in basis, that's not necessarily true. Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Parallel to directors and producers step-up in ambition, two governmental initiatives – a Catalan Minority Co-Production Fund, launched 2020, and €1.5 million ($1.6 million) grant for up to five high-end Catalan language series each year – are reshaping Catalonia’s industry. John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Feb. 2024 As of the date of death, the estate received a step-up in basis to the total face value even if the bond was purchased at a discount—the gain was tax-free and could be used to pay estate taxes. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 The company that makes semaglutide, Novo Nordisk, has recommendations for how patients should take the drug safely, including utilizing a step-up approach—starting with a smaller dose and working their way up. Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 31 Jan. 2024 However, with the league seeking a major step-up in payments, there is no assurance of a deal. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2024 The insurer—which the broker says offers one of the best dividend prospects for income investors—is expected to see a step-up in capital generation from strong annuity volumes, potentially leading to an increase in returns. WSJ, 8 Jan. 2024 The suspension is also exceptionally judged, while the new eight-speed, twin-clutch gearbox is a huge step-up. Jeremy White, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'step up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1902, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of step up was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near step up

Cite this Entry

“Step up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20up. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

step up

verb
1
: to increase the voltage of (a current) using a transformer
2
: to increase or advance
step up production
3
a
: to come forward
stepped up to accept responsibility
b
: to succeed in meeting a challenge (as by greater effort or better performance)
step-up
ˈstep-ˌəp
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on step up

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