baby step

noun

: a very small step or advance in progress
These companies can create products that take a real leap forward, rather than the traditional baby steps that larger companies with greater commitments must make.Home Theater
baby-step verb, transitive + intransitive
baby-stepped; baby-stepping
… after the 2-1 victory that baby-stepped the sixth-place Rangers within four points of the first-place Devils … Larry Brooks
"This is murder," John Chaney had said in that ever-raspy voice as he baby-stepped toward the court Thursday night. "My feet are killing me." Tom Archdeacon

Examples of baby step in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, the Fed is about to take its first baby step, a 25 or perhaps 50 basis point rate reduction, toward easing its historically restrictive monetary policy. Robert Barone, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024 But while CalPERS takes baby steps in the right direction, this incrementalism can’t outrun the fires and floods. Ruth Holton-Hodson, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024 Take baby steps with a short text or email that doesn’t require an immediate reply, and then follow up with an easy meetup suggestion — something brief and convenient. Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2024 The league is treading carefully and taking baby steps with private equity ownership. Alex Sherman, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for baby step 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'baby step.' 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

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of baby step was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near baby step

Cite this Entry

“Baby step.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baby%20step. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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