stepped up; stepping up; steps up
1
: to increase, augment, or advance especially by one or more steps
The team really stepped up their performance.
The enemy stepped up their attacks.
He also plans to step up efforts to headhunt for the best and brightest …—
Jerry Garrett
Jerry GarrettFactory production was stepped up in an effort to meet helicopter shortfalls.—Shelby L. Stanton
Shelby L. Stanton2
: to increase (a voltage) by means of a transformer
… the use of transformers to step up the voltage to very high levels …—Thomas P. Hughes
Thomas P. Hughes1
a
: to make the effort required to provide information, make a claim, volunteer, etc.
She stepped up to claim responsibility.
see also step up to the plate
b
: to succeed in meeting a challenge (as by increased effort or improved performance)
They just didn't have the guys to step up and make the big plays with the game on the line.—Peter King
Peter King2
: to undergo an increase
Business is stepping up.
3
: to receive a promotion
She stepped up to the position of general manager.
variants
or step up
plural step-ups or step ups
: an increase or advance (as in size or amount) and especially one that is gradual or incremental
Lower inflation will minimize cost-of-living step-ups for Social Security recipients …—Arthur M. Louis
Arthur M. LouisThis model will give them the quality step-up they want at a decent price …—Len Feldman
Len Feldman"… We expect a gradual step up in sales each quarter as 2021 progresses, followed by an extended period of growth starting in 2022."—Nick Stanage
Nick StanageSynonyms
Examples of step up in a Sentence
Verb
candidates stepping up their campaigns as election day draws near
stepped up the pace to catch up with the others
Recent Examples on the WebKirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024
Eminem is stepping up again in his unofficial role as Detroit's goodwill ambassador to the rest of the nation.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024
By offering up conditional leniency to people involved in white-collar crimes, the DOJ expects that companies will step up their own enforcement, a senior Justice Department official told Fortune.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
In recent months, Chinese ships have stepped up efforts to prevent the Philippine Navy from resupplying troops on the Sierra Madre, deploying water cannons that have damaged vessels and injured sailors.
—Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
With street festivals and other activities, the government has encouraged families to spend more even as many in China have stepped up their savings to offset a recent nosedive in the value of their apartments.
—Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The way James stepped up his play, especially defensively in the Dec. 7 game and Sunday’s victory, is a game-changer for the Lakers.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 15 Apr. 2024
Role-players such as Keon Ellis and Harrison Barnes have stepped up in their absences, but haven’t been able to shoulder the load entirely.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 14 Apr. 2024
At home, Ukraine is stepping up its own efforts to produce artillery shells under programs shrouded in secrecy, lest the locations become targets for Russian missiles.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
Delegate accreditation at Series Mania’s Forum, its three-day industry event running March 19-21, is on track to pass 4,000 participants, an all time record, and a huge step-up, say, from 2016, when attendance was limited to around 300 executives.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024
In community property states such as California, both halves of the property may get that step-up.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024
Even with those caveats though, that’s a remarkable step-up for a heady, epic-length follow-up.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024
But in the presence of [section] 1014 and the step-up in basis, that's not necessarily true.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Parallel to directors and producers step-up in ambition, two governmental initiatives – a Catalan Minority Co-Production Fund, launched 2020, and €1.5 million ($1.6 million) grant for up to five high-end Catalan language series each year – are reshaping Catalonia’s industry.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Feb. 2024
As of the date of death, the estate received a step-up in basis to the total face value even if the bond was purchased at a discount—the gain was tax-free and could be used to pay estate taxes.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
The company that makes semaglutide, Novo Nordisk, has recommendations for how patients should take the drug safely, including utilizing a step-up approach—starting with a smaller dose and working their way up.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
Several of Hannah’s titles were on hand for sale at the event until an anonymous donor generously stepped up to supply for all in attendance.
—Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024
Eminem is stepping up again in his unofficial role as Detroit's goodwill ambassador to the rest of the nation.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024
By offering up conditional leniency to people involved in white-collar crimes, the DOJ expects that companies will step up their own enforcement, a senior Justice Department official told Fortune.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
In recent months, Chinese ships have stepped up efforts to prevent the Philippine Navy from resupplying troops on the Sierra Madre, deploying water cannons that have damaged vessels and injured sailors.
—Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
With street festivals and other activities, the government has encouraged families to spend more even as many in China have stepped up their savings to offset a recent nosedive in the value of their apartments.
—Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The way James stepped up his play, especially defensively in the Dec. 7 game and Sunday’s victory, is a game-changer for the Lakers.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 15 Apr. 2024
Role-players such as Keon Ellis and Harrison Barnes have stepped up in their absences, but haven’t been able to shoulder the load entirely.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 14 Apr. 2024
At home, Ukraine is stepping up its own efforts to produce artillery shells under programs shrouded in secrecy, lest the locations become targets for Russian missiles.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
Although taxes should never be the sole consideration for property transfers, the favorable step-up in basis may be a powerful incentive to hold off.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
Delegate accreditation at Series Mania’s Forum, its three-day industry event running March 19-21, is on track to pass 4,000 participants, an all time record, and a huge step-up, say, from 2016, when attendance was limited to around 300 executives.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024
In community property states such as California, both halves of the property may get that step-up.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024
Even with those caveats though, that’s a remarkable step-up for a heady, epic-length follow-up.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024
But in the presence of [section] 1014 and the step-up in basis, that's not necessarily true.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Parallel to directors and producers step-up in ambition, two governmental initiatives – a Catalan Minority Co-Production Fund, launched 2020, and €1.5 million ($1.6 million) grant for up to five high-end Catalan language series each year – are reshaping Catalonia’s industry.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Feb. 2024
As of the date of death, the estate received a step-up in basis to the total face value even if the bond was purchased at a discount—the gain was tax-free and could be used to pay estate taxes.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
The company that makes semaglutide, Novo Nordisk, has recommendations for how patients should take the drug safely, including utilizing a step-up approach—starting with a smaller dose and working their way up.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'step up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near step up
Cite this Entry
“Step up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20up. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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