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

The brothers, who took Oasis to mega-stardom in the heady days of the 1990s, stepped out at the Principality Stadium for the first of 41 dates in a tour that also takes the U.S, Australia, Brazil and Japan. —Simon Perry, People.com, 4 July 2025

The fearful pup stepped out to greet her, his tail twitching—his first show of trust in a long time. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025

Rihanna and her young son Riot Rose stepped out in the city for an appointment at Dior on Avenue Montaigne, to find the boutique was unexpectedly closed. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 July 2025

In March 2023, the inciting papal misinformation moment was visual: photos of Francis stepping out in a white Balenciaga-style puffer coat, with a matching white skull cap. —Katie Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 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