step lively
idiom
chiefly US
: to go or move quickly : to hurry
You'll have to step lively if you don't want to be late for work.
Examples of step lively in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Chevy appears to have a column shifter, making this gambit slightly less dangerous, but our muddy protagonist still needs to step lively once the LS V-8 goes into drive.
—
Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 15 Mar. 2023
Brazil had best start the match on time against Serbia Thursday and step lively throughout.
—John Powers, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Nov. 2022
Icarus problem, so players will have to step lively if that causes a race-day money-migration over to the next-best only-slightly-better option, Mo Donegal, who’s at least run in a Triple Crown race before.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 11 June 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 15 Mar. 2023
Brazil had best start the match on time against Serbia Thursday and step lively throughout.
—John Powers, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Nov. 2022
Icarus problem, so players will have to step lively if that causes a race-day money-migration over to the next-best only-slightly-better option, Mo Donegal, who’s at least run in a Triple Crown race before.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 11 June 2022
Cite this Entry
“Step lively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20lively. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share