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
China hasn't ruled out the use of force and has stepped up its military exercises around Taiwan, sending warships and fighter jets closer toward the island and steadily poaching Taiwan's few remaining diplomatic allies.
—
Huizhong Wu, Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026
But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Bateman stepped up in his place, ultimately forming an offshoot group.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
During a slog of an away game at Penn State in which Dent went scoreless, Perry stepped up with a career-high 30 points to lift UCLA to victory.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
The loss isn’t solely on either star, but neither stepped up when the Huskies desperately needed someone to take over and make plays.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Priscilla Pena was one of the first people who stepped up to have her feet washed outside the facility on Thursday.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Roy said Crave stepped up to support the show as originally envisioned.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2026
Huizhong Wu, Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026
But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Bateman stepped up in his place, ultimately forming an offshoot group.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
During a slog of an away game at Penn State in which Dent went scoreless, Perry stepped up with a career-high 30 points to lift UCLA to victory.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
The loss isn’t solely on either star, but neither stepped up when the Huskies desperately needed someone to take over and make plays.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Priscilla Pena was one of the first people who stepped up to have her feet washed outside the facility on Thursday.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Roy said Crave stepped up to support the show as originally envisioned.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up
Verb
-
At the same time, the increasingly visual nature of modern life—especially on social media—has intensified how weddings are experienced.—
Sara Radin,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, Israel intensified its attacks on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, hitting commercial and residential areas in Beirut.—
Bassem Mroue,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The study published in the journal Construction and Building Materials also revealed that the triangular and wavy forms significantly enhanced the beam's ability to handle post-cracking stress.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Digest The entrance to the Colosseum in Rome has been renovated and enhanced with travertine marble by studio Stefano Boeri Interiors.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Exercise heightened caution during this period.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Delays in finalizing a deal between City Hall and the Olympics committee have heightened those tensions.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But no Attorney General in history has caused more damage to the department itself—damage that promises to long outlast Bondi’s tenure, and to be deepened, not repaired, by whoever is chosen to succeed her.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Shadows deepened from brown and green and slate orange to a full, final black.—
Kate Crane,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Villarreal strengthened its hold on third place with a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Norah feels celebrated and strengthened by its community, an ethos that rings true when Claire speaks about those around her.—
Julie Lin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Provost’s Office began reviewing the programs in 2024 to evaluate where programs can be consolidated, suspended or consolidated.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The market power debate Live Nation Entertainment consolidated the live entertainment market by vertically integrating several business segments involved in concert production.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stepped up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20up. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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