doorstep

noun

door·​step ˈdȯr-ˌstep How to pronounce doorstep (audio)
: a step before an outer door
Phrases
on one's doorstep
: close at hand
especially : too close to be overlooked

Examples of doorstep in a Sentence

We sat on the doorstep. The police were at my doorstep.
Recent Examples on the Web Younger children may not fully grasp their physical distance from the conflict and may fear that the conflict is at their doorstep so reassurance may be needed. Mill Etienne, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Three presidential hopefuls privately told Reuters that tensions are so high that the wrong remark could cost them victory, and fear protesters arriving on their doorsteps. Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, and Divya Rajagopal, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Nov. 2023 From selecting the carols that play in the store to deciding the most eye-catching places to display toys to getting those Amazon packages to your doorstep on time, there are thousands of people responsible for making the holiday shopping merry. Julie Creswell, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2023 Smith became friends with Holt after the two slowly began to strike up conversations from their doorsteps. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023 For Maximum Security Upgrade your home security and convenience with this Doorbell Camera that offers not just a way to monitor your doorstep but also to interact with visitors. Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023 Renaming his company the California Perfume Company and mixing perfumes himself, McConnell recruited a team of women to market his products on customers’ doorsteps. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 14 Nov. 2023 The company will ship it right to their doorstep on your behalf. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 20 Oct. 2023 Read on to learn more about the best subscription box gifts, ones that our editors have actually given—and would be very excited to see on our own doorsteps month after month. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 3 Nov. 2023 See More

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

1767, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doorstep was in 1767

Dictionary Entries Near doorstep

Cite this Entry

“Doorstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doorstep. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

doorstep

noun
door·​step -ˌstep How to pronounce doorstep (audio)
: a step or series of steps before an outer door

More from Merriam-Webster on doorstep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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