step out

verb

stepped out; stepping out; steps out

intransitive verb

1

: to go away from a place usually for a short distance and for a short time

2

: to go or march at a vigorous or increased pace

3

: die

4

: to lead an active social life

5

: to be unfaithful

—usually used with on

had been stepping out on his wife

Synonyms

• cheat
• screw around
• play (around)

Examples of step out in a Sentence

if she catches him stepping out on her, she'll divorce him without a moment's hesitation

my greedy relatives are only being nice to me because they expect me to step out any time now

Recent Examples on the Web

Alicia Silverstone steps out in a cool suit weeks after the Clueless 30-year anniversary in New York on Aug. 6. —Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025

How Vrabel did land a job and stepped out of a recruiting visit to Boston College with his eldest son, Tyler, to take a call from the Titans in January 2018. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025

Last night, Ortega stepped out once again for Wednesday’s New York fan screening, wearing an airy black slip dress with cascading leather ruffles and a low, low back. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2025

Queen Letizia herself had previously stepped out in the wedges back in July 2020. —Ben Jureidini, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for step out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

step out

verb

: to go away from a place usually for a short distance and for a short time