as in reduction
the amount by which something is lessened
took a huge step-down in income when she switched from a law career to one in social work
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Recent Examples of step-down
The tower will serve as a pulmonary step-down unit for patients after surgeries, including lung transplants, who are stable enough to leave critical care but not ready for a regular floor, said Dr. Jane Freedman, Vanderbilt University Medical Center's deputy CEO and chief health system officer.
—
Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
In an update on Monday, the Fort Worth Fire Department said that Halvorson has been moved from the ICU to a step-down room in the burn unit at Parkland.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
Ketler spent four days in the intensive care unit and then another 10 in the step-down unit before he was transported to a rehab facility.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics revisions show a sharp slowdown in payroll growth in the second quarter of 2025, with the biggest step-downs in low-wage industries such as retail, wholesale, leisure, and hospitality.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-down
Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
In an update on Monday, the Fort Worth Fire Department said that Halvorson has been moved from the ICU to a step-down room in the burn unit at Parkland.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
Ketler spent four days in the intensive care unit and then another 10 in the step-down unit before he was transported to a rehab facility.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics revisions show a sharp slowdown in payroll growth in the second quarter of 2025, with the biggest step-downs in low-wage industries such as retail, wholesale, leisure, and hospitality.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step-down
Noun
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The company strips out nonessential systems and designs each component around mass reduction.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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On Wednesday, city leaders said the strategy has driven the recent crime reduction.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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If the decrease in air pressure is severe enough — 24 millibars in 24 hours — bombogenesis takes place and a bomb cyclone results.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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While this reflected the decrease in broadband customers, it was partially offset by higher average rates, Comcast said.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Gregor Gregersen, founder of precious-metals dealer Silver Bullion, said the abrupt nature of the drop suggested something a bit other than orderly profit-taking.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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Continue reading … PANIC PLAYBOOK – School board members slam 'fearmongering' over immigration as attendance drops.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mixing and juxtaposing voices, lingos, and tones, [Dylan] traces the decline of America over the trajectory of his own lifetime through the kaleidoscope of the Kennedy assassination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Despite the beat, total revenue fell 3 percent year over year, marking the company’s first annual decline.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Now that Musk has massively tarnished the brand with his public embrace of far-right ideologies, putting a major dent in its cars’ desirability, and competition in the space is stronger than ever, particularly from China, the richest man in the world is ready to move on to his next shiny obsession.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
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The sector has sold off in recent months on worries that new AI tools will deteriorate demand for their workflows and licenses and put a dent in long-standing revenue models.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Step-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-down. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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