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
Liz Lee, USA Today, 3 June 2025
China stepped up cloud seeding in the face of severe drought.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 3 June 2025
Ben Croll, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
Two exercises that can help grow all these muscles include step-ups and bodyweight squats.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for step up
Verb
Hegseth urged Asian allies to step up defense spending.
—Liz Lee, USA Today, 3 June 2025
China stepped up cloud seeding in the face of severe drought.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
Hell, by way of pleasure and ambition, this slight-but-winsome dramedy offers a step-up from recent vintages; by way of international resonance, however, this latest opener seems unlikely for a world tour.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
Two exercises that can help grow all these muscles include step-ups and bodyweight squats.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for step up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step up
Verb
-
This influx of graduates has significantly intensified competition at the entry level, prompting employers to consider factors beyond academic qualifications when making hiring decisions.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
In response, Trump authorized thousands of National Guards to the California city, and 700 Marines arrived on Tuesday, intensifying tensions between the federal and state government.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2025
-
The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
As disparate data sources come together through intelligent ETL processes enhanced by AI, the next step is managing the security, authentication and role-level access of the different departments and users.—
Lori Schafer,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
At Buena Nota Bakery & Coffee Shop, a caffeine boost is anything but ordinary.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2025
-
Colorado has around 584,000 SNAP recipients —10 percent of its population — all of whom are eligible for the boost.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
As Meech and Terry confront new enemies and deal with the consequences of their time in Mexico, the tension between them deepens, testing a bond that once felt unbreakable.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
6 June 2025
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In that film, Cazale is visibly sick, but that only deepens his performance as the sad fool in a macho band of brothers.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
They are seen as disruptive, aggressive and focused solely on short-term gains.—
Alexander Savin,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
During the hearing, Hegseth is widely expected to dodge many of the specifics on the military's spending blueprint, which has not been released, and instead highlight recent gains in recruiting numbers and new technology initiatives in the Army.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
10 June 2025
Verb
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The day opened with news that two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and their spouses had been shot by a man wearing a police uniform, heightening anxieties and tensions.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
15 June 2025
-
With numerous protests planned across the country, authorities in several cities are preparing for large crowds and heightening security.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 June 2025
Noun
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If the newest additions—Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders—hit the ground running, there's no reason to think City won't push toward the final.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 June 2025
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The strikes killed the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the country's top two military officials, in addition to several nuclear scientists.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Step up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step%20up. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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