Synonyms of stepped

stepped 1 of 2

adjective

as in tapered

Related Words

• tapered
• phased
• gradual
• piecemeal
• progressive
• step-by-step
• gradational
• incremental
• imperceptible
• inching
• decrescent
• increscent

Dissimilar Words

• sudden
• abrupt
• sharp
• acute
• discontinuous
• dynamic
• volatile
• saltatory
• changeable
• meteoric

stepped

2 of 2

verb

past tense of step

1

as in walked

to go on foot

I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• walked
• strolled
• wandered
• padded
• sauntered
• marched
• traipsed
• trod
• strode
• trotted
• shuffled
• ambulated
• footed (it)
• trekked
• legged (it)
• hiked
• paced
• stomped
• trooped
• promenaded
• ambled
• tiptoed
• paraded
• trampled
• hoofed (it)
• tapped
• stepped out
• trudged
• stumbled
• lurched
• pranced
• sashayed
• limped
• hobbled
• clumped
• waddled
• strutted
• stalked
• tramped
• moseyed
• staggered
• stumped
• faltered
• rambled
• swaggered
• shambled
• toddled
• minced
• power walked
• plodded
• tripped
• bounced
• scuffed
• tromped
• perambulated
• peregrinated
• gimped
• lumbered
• pussyfooted
• footslogged
• pounded
• nipped

2

as in danced

to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music

she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• danced
• shuffled
• footed (it)
• strutted
• waltzed
• pranced
• hoofed (it)
• shook a leg
• bopped
• tripped
• tripped the light fantastic
• shimmied
• jigged
• boogied
• tap-danced
• shagged
• jitterbugged
• trod
• jived
• tangoed
• fox-trotted
• twisted
• mamboed
• gavotted
• polkaed

3

as in sped

to proceed or move quickly

many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sped
• hurried
• rushed
• scurried
• trotted
• raced
• traveled
• flew
• jumped
• drove
• zipped
• chased
• ran
• scooted
• buzzed
• blew
• darted
• dashed
• bolted
• blasted
• scuttled
• hustled
• ripped
• rammed
• whirled
• zoomed
• tore
• bowled
• hurled
• jogged
• hastened
• blazed
• hurtled
• barreled
• rustled
• whisked
• bustled
• humped
• careened
• rocketed
• breezed
• shot
• bundled
• nipped
• careered
• jetted
• motored
• cracked (on)
• hied
• coursed
• pelted
• galloped
• belted
• beat it
• bombed
• stepped on it
• cannonballed
• highballed
• hared
• flitted
• shook a leg
• made tracks
• scampered
• sprinted
• got a move on
• streaked
• scuffled
• hotfooted (it)
• whizzed
• accelerated
• stampeded
• scudded
• stepped out
• overtook
• quickened
• beetled
• outpaced
• caught up
• outstripped
• outran
• arrowed
• beelined
• fast-forwarded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crawled
• crept
• dragged
• poked
• lingered
• lagged
• poked
• strolled
• hung (around or out)
• sauntered
• shuffled
• loitered
• ambled
• tarried
• dallied
• plodded
• lumbered
• dawdled
• slowed (down or up)
• decelerated
• dillydallied

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stepped

Verb

Hawks assistant general manager Kyle Korver has stepped away from the organization, according to a person familiar with the situation. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026

The drummers picked up a Grand Entry song, and the Kit Fox members stepped onto the grass. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

The Moonrise Kingdom actor has largely stepped away from public appearances since he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023 after originally being diagnosed with aphasia the year prior. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026

The Yankees’ third baseman charged the ball, stepped on third base, retiring Lukes, and fired to first base to try to complete the inning-ending double play. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

The cousin ordered food, stepped away to go to the bathroom, then returned to see Arboleda wounded on the street, the feds allege. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Keys herself stepped onstage after the Tuesday-night performance to greet the opening-night crowd, a fitting moment for an artist who owns a home in the area and whose musical journey is so deeply woven into the production. — Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Tan stepped away from the VC world to become CEO of Intel in March 2025, taking over at a time of great peril for the company. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Millions of people across Europe stepped outside Wednesday to watch a spectacular sunset with a solar eclipse. — Npr Staff, NPR, 12 Aug. 2026