as in to intensify
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
candidates stepping up their campaigns as election day draws near stepped up the pace to catch up with the others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in increase
something added (as by growth)
there's been a step-up in productivity since regular breaks were offered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of step up
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Members of the community are stepping up to support the family of a Boston firefighter killed in a three-alarm blaze over the weekend.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 25 May 2026
Brandon Widder, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2026
Unlike squats, where both legs share the workload, step-ups rely on one leg to produce nearly all of the lifting force, according to Hribick.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for step up
Verb
Injuries to integral players have wrecked the roster and some reinforcements Brown signed this winter have not stepped up in their absence.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Members of the community are stepping up to support the family of a Boston firefighter killed in a three-alarm blaze over the weekend.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 25 May 2026
Noun
The standard model sounds just as good as the step-up version with active noise cancellation, and because they’re outfitted with Apple’s H2 chip, those with a Mac or iPhone can leverage all sorts of ecosystem tricks, from automatic device switching to hands-free Siri commands.
—Brandon Widder, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2026
Unlike squats, where both legs share the workload, step-ups rely on one leg to produce nearly all of the lifting force, according to Hribick.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for step up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step up
Verb
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Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said attacks on Hezbollah would intensify, potentially threatening the talks as Iran has insisted that any deal include the Lebanese militant group.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
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Earlier, Mars square Pluto may intensify pressure between group expectations and personal boundaries.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 May 2026
Noun
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That was the largest increase in the plant’s more than 30-year history, records show.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Since 2019, the National Poison Data System has fielded a nearly 1,500% increase in calls related to overdoses or side effects from injectable weight loss drugs.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The idea is to enhance security at nonprofits that could be targeted for their ideology or mission.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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In advertising, innovations in AI have led to the capability to analyze huge volumes of data, to tailor ads to individual consumer preferences and behaviors, and to enhance personalization in advertising.—
Melissa A. Wheeler,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Other recent call-ups, like Nick Sogard and Mickey Gasper, have also given the lineup a boost.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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Dell said Thursday that its server unit had gotten a massive boost from widening AI adoption, challenging analysts’ assessment that demand for the business was already reflected in the stock price.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Since Ian, Orange County has deepened stormwater ponds in the area and repaired damaged pumps to improve flood storage and drainage before future storms.—
Greg Bennett,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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The co-op war in the heart of brownstone Brooklyn comes against a backdrop of deepening antipathy between supporters of Israel and Palestine across New York.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2026
Noun
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And anyone invested in the equity market has benefited hugely from the S&P 500 Index’s 90% gain since the end of 2022.—
Conor Sen,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
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Warsh says productivity gains from artificial intelligence will help the economy grow more quickly without spurring inflation, enabling the Fed to reduce borrowing costs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2026
Verb
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In some communities distrust of outside authorities and aid organizations has led to attacks on treatment centers, while the outbreak’s spread through Ituri—a major commercial and migration hub—has heightened concerns about wider regional and international transmission.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
29 May 2026
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Distrust, travel bans could complicate response Dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for handling the victims’ bodies, which clash with local burial rites.—
Jean-Yves Kamale,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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In addition to Crosby and Ramirez, the MEA committee is also supporting incumbents Kent Lee in District 6 and Henry Foster in District 4.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
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Lauer — who held the Rockies to one run and four hits in his six-inning Dodgers debut Tuesday — as the Dodgers beat the Rockies 15-6 — was a midseason addition as injuries thinned the team’s starting pitching depth.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Step up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step%20up. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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