stepping stone

noun

variants or less commonly stepping-stone

ˈste-piŋ-ˌstōn 

plural stepping stones also stepping-stones

1

: a stone on which to step (as in crossing a stream or following a path)

We … crossed a stream using stepping stones, and started up a winding path …

—Joshua Rothman

As in a Japanese garden, where stepping-stones force you to savor your stroll, you must watch every step and wind your way around the Japanese pines and beach grasses.

—Stephen Drucker

2

: a means of progress or advancement

a stepping stone to success

But now many more see a political job as a stepping stone to money, power and influence.

—Barbara Gamarekian

Each person I talked to was to be a stepping-stone to the overall plan. It was my job to educate them so they would take their natural places in the plan.

—Jane Smiley

Examples of stepping stone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Beige gravel serves as a backdrop to small circular stepping stones in a contrasting gray tone. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026

This realization is the stepping stone out of a mistaken belief in mortal mind’s reality into the grand verity and all-harmonious cosmos of immortal Mind. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2026

At present, the research is just a stepping stone, and rigorous safety and environmental testing remain necessary before commercial release. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026

The Intercontinental Championship is, of course, a nice stepping stone to main event status. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stepping stone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids Definition

stepping-stone

noun

step·​ping-stone

ˈstep-iŋ-ˌstōn

1

: a stone on which to step (as in crossing a stream)

2

: something aiding in progress or advancement

a stepping-stone to success