stepped down; stepping down; steps down
: to withdraw from one's position or occupation : retire, resign
League commissioner Pete Rozelle … announced his intention to step down after 29 years on the job—his retirement becomes effective upon selection of a successor …—
Richard Demak and Jerry Kirshenbaum
Richard Demak and Jerry Kirshenbaum… the general would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution.—Brian Duffy et al.
Brian Duffy et al.1
: to lower (a voltage) by means of a transformer
… voltages as high as two hundred and thirty thousand volts … which were carried by high-voltage power lines from generating plants, were being stepped down by large transformers to thirteen thousand volts …—Paul Brodeur
Paul Brodeur2
: to decrease or reduce (something) especially by one or more steps
As This Old House's plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey points out, the installer has to carefully step down the size of the ducts so there's even air pressure at all the room outlets.—Scott Gibson
Scott Gibson
variants
or step down
or less commonly stepdown
plural step-downs or step downs also stepdowns
: a decrease or reduction (as in size or amount) and especially one that is gradual or incremental
a dosage step-down
After several months of heavy investments, Amazon said it expects coronavirus-related costs to decelerate. … [Amazon CFO Brian] Olsavsky attributed the step down in Covid costs to a shift in volume.—Annie Palmer
Annie PalmerThat tax credit was scheduled to expire in 2019 but will now expire in 2025, with stepdowns toward the end of the program.—Alaska Dispatch News
Alaska Dispatch News1
electrical engineering
: serving to decrease voltage
a step-down transformer
2
medical
: providing or offering a reduced level of care or service
step-down drug rehab programs
specifically
: providing an intermediate level of care and monitoring especially for patients transitioning out of intensive care
a cardiac step-down unit
… a portable, mechanical driver that can power patients' artificial hearts and enable them to recover outside the hospital environment, including at home and at step-down facilities. —Anne Buckley
Anne Buckley 
Synonyms
Examples of step down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebBastian Benrath, Fortune Europe, 4 Apr. 2024
In 1980, Brodersen stepped down, and in 2000 Cindy Dach joined the team.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
And in a management shakeup, the company announced in March that CEO Dave Calhoun would step down at the end of 2024 after only four years at the helm.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Given Moscow’s insistence on regime change, an agreement with Russia would also require Ukraine’s current leadership—the very people who would negotiate such a deal—to step down.
—Branislav L. Slantchev, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
This week, the CEO of Mercer and vice chair of Marsh McLennan is stepping down to start her own.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
Prominent political leaders like Ms. Touré pushed the current president, Macky Sall, to step down at the end of his term and hold elections as promised.
—Ayen Deng Bior, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Mar. 2024
Editors’ Picks This is my wife, Olivia, and our 2-year-old son, Julien,
Mr. Henry, who could not return to Port-au-Prince after leaving on an official trip and has been staying in Puerto Rico, has agreed to step down once a transitional government is established.
—David C. Adams, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Rail Authority Chief Executive Brian Kelly, who plans to step down this year, and other rail officials have also acknowledged the questionable funding of a rail system with less than a quarter of its length under construction three years after the the first phase was supposed to be completed.
—Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
That would be a significant step-down from the massive $188.7 million that Godzilla vs. Kong earned in the country in 2021, but easily the best performance by a Hollywood film there in months.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
The consultants also suggest a step-down approach, so tall towers aren’t built next to single family neighborhoods in the north side and Marine Park neighborhoods.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
The first choice, a step-down facility with enhanced services for those leaving locked care, was quickly ruled out.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
Among the home’s many spaces for entertaining is a vast entrance gallery that leads to a step-down living room that features curved crown moldings, a detailed ceiling, and a fireplace.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2024
Nearly 8,000 square feet of open-plan space in the home includes a two-story foyer that opens to a step-down living room and an adjacent dining room area.
—Neal J. Leitereg, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Every Tuesday and Thursday for three decades, Allan ran a psycho-educational group at Weill Cornell Medical Center’s cardiac care step-down unit for survivors of recent cardiovascular events.
—Gina Ryder, STAT, 3 Jan. 2024
The Victrola Stream Onyx, the step-down version of the Victrola Stream Carbon, is matching its all-time low of $399.99 ($200 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.
—Brandon Widder, The Verge, 16 Dec. 2023
James Lacy, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2023
The primary bathroom also features a step-down shower with a view of the mountains.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023
Verb
The chief executive stepped down; the chairman, Romeo Lacher, apologized.
—Bastian Benrath, Fortune Europe, 4 Apr. 2024
In 1980, Brodersen stepped down, and in 2000 Cindy Dach joined the team.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
And in a management shakeup, the company announced in March that CEO Dave Calhoun would step down at the end of 2024 after only four years at the helm.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Given Moscow’s insistence on regime change, an agreement with Russia would also require Ukraine’s current leadership—the very people who would negotiate such a deal—to step down.
—Branislav L. Slantchev, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
This week, the CEO of Mercer and vice chair of Marsh McLennan is stepping down to start her own.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
Prominent political leaders like Ms. Touré pushed the current president, Macky Sall, to step down at the end of his term and hold elections as promised.
—Ayen Deng Bior, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Mar. 2024
Editors’ Picks This is my wife, Olivia, and our 2-year-old son, Julien,
Mr. Henry, who could not return to Port-au-Prince after leaving on an official trip and has been staying in Puerto Rico, has agreed to step down once a transitional government is established.
—David C. Adams, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Rail Authority Chief Executive Brian Kelly, who plans to step down this year, and other rail officials have also acknowledged the questionable funding of a rail system with less than a quarter of its length under construction three years after the the first phase was supposed to be completed.
—Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
The plan is to create a step-down in heights between the skyscrapers in downtown and the single family neighborhoods in the north side, according to the report.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
That would be a significant step-down from the massive $188.7 million that Godzilla vs. Kong earned in the country in 2021, but easily the best performance by a Hollywood film there in months.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
The consultants also suggest a step-down approach, so tall towers aren’t built next to single family neighborhoods in the north side and Marine Park neighborhoods.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
The first choice, a step-down facility with enhanced services for those leaving locked care, was quickly ruled out.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
Among the home’s many spaces for entertaining is a vast entrance gallery that leads to a step-down living room that features curved crown moldings, a detailed ceiling, and a fireplace.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2024
Nearly 8,000 square feet of open-plan space in the home includes a two-story foyer that opens to a step-down living room and an adjacent dining room area.
—Neal J. Leitereg, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Every Tuesday and Thursday for three decades, Allan ran a psycho-educational group at Weill Cornell Medical Center’s cardiac care step-down unit for survivors of recent cardiovascular events.
—Gina Ryder, STAT, 3 Jan. 2024
The Victrola Stream Onyx, the step-down version of the Victrola Stream Carbon, is matching its all-time low of $399.99 ($200 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.
—Brandon Widder, The Verge, 16 Dec. 2023
Adjective
Some hospitals have a step-down unit, which provides an intermediate level of care that is less intense than the ICU while providing closer care than the regular unit.
—James Lacy, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2023
The primary bathroom also features a step-down shower with a view of the mountains.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'step down.' 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
1875, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun
1905, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to step down
Dictionary Entries Near step down
Cite this Entry
“Step down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20down. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
step down
verb(ˈ)step-ˈdau̇n
1
: to lower the voltage of (a current) using a transformer
2
: to decrease or reduce especially by one or more steps
stepped down the volume
3
: resign sense 2, retire
will step down as chairman at the end of this year
step-down
adjective
-ˌdau̇n
Medical Definition
step-down
1 of 2 adjective
: providing or offering a reduced level of care or service
step-down drug rehab programs
specifically
: providing an intermediate level of care and monitoring especially for patients transitioning out of intensive care
Our group practice rotates us in 3-week stints through various critical and step-down units. —The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association step-down
2 of 2 noun
variants
or step down
: a decrease or reduction in size or amount
a dosage step-down
More from Merriam-Webster on step down
Nglish: Translation of step down for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of step down for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share