stepping stone

noun

variants or less commonly stepping-stone

ˈste-piŋ-ˌstōn 

plural stepping stones also stepping-stones

1

: a stone on which to step (as in crossing a stream or following a path)

We filled our water bottles in a large, clear lake set in smooth granite, crossed a stream using stepping stones, and started up a winding path that rose to a series of switchbacks.

—Joshua Rothman

As in a Japanese garden, where stepping-stones force you to savor your stroll, you must watch every step and wind your way around the Japanese pines and beach grasses.

—Stephen Drucker

2

: a means of progress or advancement

a stepping stone to success

But now many more see a political job as a stepping stone to money, power and influence.

—Barbara Gamarekian

Each person I talked to was to be a stepping-stone to the overall plan. It was my job to educate them so they would take their natural places in the plan.

—Jane Smiley

Examples of stepping stone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trying to sleep, in patches, the wife crossed a rushing stream on stepping stones that were unsteady beneath her feet; below them, in the water, swarms of small dark sluglike creatures waited for her bare feet to slip. —Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

Pots, troughs, stepping stones, garden ornaments can all be made of hypertufa. —Kenneth Setzer, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

Supervisor spots are highly coveted by Arizona politicos, often serving as a stepping stone to higher political office. —Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024

From humble beginnings as housekeepers, waitstaff, or gardeners, these women have embraced challenges and opportunities, transforming setbacks into stepping stones toward success. —Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

According to Bobbi, having a growth mindset transforms challenges into stepping stones for personal development. —Maria Williams, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024

Fighters can use their shield as a stepping stone to boost teammates to higher ground on giant enemies while mages can augment weapons to deal elemental damage. —Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024

Many awards ceremonies champion themselves as stepping stones to the Oscars, but the Producers Guild of America Awards — to be presented Feb. 25 at Ovation Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom — have an enviable track record to support the claim. —Todd Longwell, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024

Barbie star Ryan Gosling and Maestro writer-director-star Bradley Cooper have already accepted prizes from the fest, which is a major awards season stepping stone. —Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

stepping-stone

noun

step·​ping-stone

ˈstep-iŋ-ˌstōn

1

: a stone on which to step (as in crossing a stream)

2

: something aiding in progress or advancement

a stepping-stone to success