a step up/down
idiom
: more/less important, challenging, etc., than something had before
The new job is a step up/down for her.
Examples of a step up/down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Exploration is hungry work, and Notre Dame has numerous options for visitors seeking a step up from the dining halls.
—
Eric Larsen, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
The previous top pick on this list, Weber’s Genesis is, technically, a step up from the Spirit line.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2025
The 27-year-old has clearly made a step up from what were already high-level performances in that time.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Canva, which ranked fifth on CNBC’s latest Disruptor 50 list, has raised over $560 million, and was valued most recently at $32 billion, though that’s a step down from its peak of $40 billion in 2021, when private markets were at their frothiest.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for a step up/down
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Eric Larsen, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
The previous top pick on this list, Weber’s Genesis is, technically, a step up from the Spirit line.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2025
The 27-year-old has clearly made a step up from what were already high-level performances in that time.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Canva, which ranked fifth on CNBC’s latest Disruptor 50 list, has raised over $560 million, and was valued most recently at $32 billion, though that’s a step down from its peak of $40 billion in 2021, when private markets were at their frothiest.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for a step up/down
Cite this Entry
“A step up/down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20step%20up%2Fdown. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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