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

ˈbā-bē-ˌstep 

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

Take baby steps toward actualizing a long-term aspiration as Mercury and Jupiter harmonize. —Usa Today, USA Today, 5 May 2025

Almost fifteen years ago, truck platooning was the first baby step of commercial development of autonomous trucking, led by Peloton Technology. —Richard Bishop, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Do not rush into decisions without thinking them through, but don’t hold yourself back from taking baby steps! —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025

Since most of us can't turn off the internet and still function, Joseph recommends taking little breaks, beginning with baby steps. —Allison Aubrey, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for baby step

• multistep
• overstep
• bicep
• doorstep
• footstep
• instep
• lockstep
• misstep
• sidestep
• cep
• hep
• pep