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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of stepped up
Local generosity and continued need Community groups and businesses have stepped up as well.
—
Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Promotions for the app have been stepped up during the blackout and the NFL, a partner with ESPN in a pending deal for NFL Media assets, has also pointed out the ESPN app option for YouTube TV customers.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Rodgers stepped up in the pocket, then retreated back into the end zone, ran into Fautanu and lost the ball.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Santa Fe Christian Volleyball Only a freshman, Johnson stepped up with 19 kills to lead Santa Fe Christian to a 25-12, 25-13, 25-19 sweep over Patrick Henry to claim the section Division 2 championship.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
With one out already on the board, Rojas stepped up in the ninth hole and delivered a line-drive home run, hitting the ball over the wall on a hanging pitch by Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
When founding designer Gianni was murdered on the steps of his Miami Beach house in July 1997, Donatella stepped up to lead design.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
The group participated in some drills before William stepped up to take part in a penalty kick contest.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
The pass came better late than never after Mahomes stepped up in the pocket, and Rice hauled it in and took it the final 11 yards into the end zone.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Promotions for the app have been stepped up during the blackout and the NFL, a partner with ESPN in a pending deal for NFL Media assets, has also pointed out the ESPN app option for YouTube TV customers.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Rodgers stepped up in the pocket, then retreated back into the end zone, ran into Fautanu and lost the ball.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Santa Fe Christian Volleyball Only a freshman, Johnson stepped up with 19 kills to lead Santa Fe Christian to a 25-12, 25-13, 25-19 sweep over Patrick Henry to claim the section Division 2 championship.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
With one out already on the board, Rojas stepped up in the ninth hole and delivered a line-drive home run, hitting the ball over the wall on a hanging pitch by Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
When founding designer Gianni was murdered on the steps of his Miami Beach house in July 1997, Donatella stepped up to lead design.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
The group participated in some drills before William stepped up to take part in a penalty kick contest.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
The pass came better late than never after Mahomes stepped up in the pocket, and Rice hauled it in and took it the final 11 yards into the end zone.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up
Verb
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By 2022, nationalist rhetoric from Yameen and his Progressive Party coalition intensified into a demand for the expulsion of the Indian troops stationed in the country.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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These beta-rich alloys also formed denser and more stable electrode structures, which enhanced the interface between the electrode and the solid electrolyte.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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Travelers booking in the first-class car enjoy padded seating at a table and a vintage interior enhanced with Christmas decor.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The only thing that is new is the obsession with anti-aging and heightened beauty standards.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
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Runners could chart the best course, a challenge heightened by the fact that the Boston Red Sox were playing at home that night.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The latest revolt suggests that months later, despite strong results in last week’s elections, the party’s rift over how to confront the President has only deepened.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
11 Nov. 2025
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The odd online friendship has since evolved into a recurring source of entertainment for followers—and this latest exchange only deepened that fascination.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The storm has strengthened into the equivalent of a Category 4 Hurricane and is expected to hit central Vietnam Thursday night — an area that hasn’t yet recovered from disastrous flash flooding and landslides caused by weeks of record rainfall and successive storms.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch has said several operations already underway in Michoacán, including arresting those involved in organized crime, would be strengthened.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuits were consolidated into one case.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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And Stadium Goods, with its once-booming NYC store on Howard Street, in January consolidated its retail operations and pivoted to a focus on digital sales.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stepped up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20up. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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