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

Charlotte Gainsbourg stepped onto the runway to sing, adding an intimate finish to the monumental setting. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Passengers lifted their bags and stepped over the liquid as flight attendants struggled to stop the leak. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026

In her place was the young girl who first stepped onto a diving board at a summer camp in Italy nearly 15 years ago. — Bella Armstrong, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

After his initial diagnosis in 2025, Joel stepped away from performing. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

The artist stepped away from performing last year after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder caused by an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

These edges can therefore appear jagged or stair-stepped, an effect called aliasing. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026

Since then, Burke has mostly stepped away from Hollywood, but has popped up in What Women Want (2000) and on series like DAG and Boston Legal. — Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026

The Fifth Avenue windows set the tone before guests even stepped inside, with stacks of books wrapped in jackets printed with patterns from the collection, alongside illustrations inspired by the same prints. — Donna Kim, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2026