as in intensified
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
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Recent Examples of stepped up
During dinner, musician Malcolm McRae — who’s featured in Simkhai’s campaign imagery, and is also Anya Taylor-Joy’s husband — performed a song for the crowd, while Mia Moretti stepped up for DJ duty.
—
Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 14 Feb. 2026
Under Moretti’s guidance, the foundation’s Cinema Godard movie theater (pictured above) has stepped up its screening series and onstage conversations with name directors including Alfonso Cuarón, Xavier Dolan, Luca Guadagnino, Werner Herzog, Jia Zhangke and Rebecca Zlotowski, to name a few.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Federal regulators have stepped up enforcement of trucker licensing rules after a surge of deadly crashes involving non-domiciled drivers last summer.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Companies have stepped up share buybacks, unwound cross-shareholdings and focused more aggressively on return on equity, a shift encouraged by the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Brown confirmed the two seniors stepped up when the Vikings needed it.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Mamdani said outreach efforts are being stepped up, to include working with people who were formerly homeless themselves to help encourage those currently without homes to seek shelters.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
But so far, Darnold has stepped up and passed every test.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
Senior center Serah Williams stepped up in the frontcourt with 11 points, four assists, three blocks and three rebounds in 21 minutes.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 14 Feb. 2026
Under Moretti’s guidance, the foundation’s Cinema Godard movie theater (pictured above) has stepped up its screening series and onstage conversations with name directors including Alfonso Cuarón, Xavier Dolan, Luca Guadagnino, Werner Herzog, Jia Zhangke and Rebecca Zlotowski, to name a few.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Federal regulators have stepped up enforcement of trucker licensing rules after a surge of deadly crashes involving non-domiciled drivers last summer.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Companies have stepped up share buybacks, unwound cross-shareholdings and focused more aggressively on return on equity, a shift encouraged by the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Brown confirmed the two seniors stepped up when the Vikings needed it.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Mamdani said outreach efforts are being stepped up, to include working with people who were formerly homeless themselves to help encourage those currently without homes to seek shelters.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
But so far, Darnold has stepped up and passed every test.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
Senior center Serah Williams stepped up in the frontcourt with 11 points, four assists, three blocks and three rebounds in 21 minutes.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up
Verb
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But while the model shifted toward authenticity, the pressure intensified.—
Mina Haque,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Since late January, the harsh cold has has not only intensified demand for home heating oil but also natural gas and electricity.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
How has being in love enhanced your artistic practice?—
Cierra Black,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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This investment ensures smaller class sizes, competitive pay for educators and staff (at least $20/hour), enhanced school safety and robust support for early childhood and higher education.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Two shows, much of it improvised, will be staged at The Conrad in La Jolla next Sunday and that heightened, in-the-moment energy transmits to the audience.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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The polarized response to the Super Bowl halftime show was heightened by the president signaling his strong distaste for Bad Bunny both before and after the game.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But throughout this first season, the show’s writers have added to and enriched Martin’s material in ways that have deepened the characters and the meaning.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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China also is a critical enabler of Russia’s war on Ukraine, and has reportedly deepened its cooperation with Moscow, particularly for dual-use components and critical minerals used in Russian drone production.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The bullpen will also be strengthened with the additions of Matt Strahm, Nick Mears and Alex Lange this offseason.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Feb. 2026
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My own passage into and back out of unbelief—one marked by a close reading of works that earlier illiberal societies had attempted to suppress on religious grounds—has strengthened my liberal commitments.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Control over water, energy, data, communications, and access to space is being consolidated by a small number of corporate actors through laws written without transparency or public consent.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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In 2025 alone, reporting by Reuters and regional outlets documented multiple Major League Rugby franchises exiting or being consolidated.—
Michael Fealey,
Sportico.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stepped up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20up. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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