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
Nimaka was forced to leave the game after injuring his lip during a sequence just before the break, but his teammates stepped up in his absence.
—
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
On the heels of her buzzy appearances at her mother's halftime show performance and Renaissance World Tour, Blue Ivy stepped up another level for the 2025 Cowboy Carter Tour.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Several Red Wings stepped up to power Detroit’s run through December, with Andrew Copp, James van Riemsdyk and Simon Edvinsson all high on that list.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
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
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
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
On the heels of her buzzy appearances at her mother's halftime show performance and Renaissance World Tour, Blue Ivy stepped up another level for the 2025 Cowboy Carter Tour.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Several Red Wings stepped up to power Detroit’s run through December, with Andrew Copp, James van Riemsdyk and Simon Edvinsson all high on that list.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up
Verb
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Pockets of protests erupting across Iran over the past week have intensified pressure on a dysfunctional government struggling to manage a spiraling economic crisis.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Justice Department has intensified efforts to investigate fraud in the state after a social media video shared by YouTuber Nick Shirley went viral right before New Year's Day.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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
-
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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Emmer has been a staunch opponent of Walz for some time, whose antagonism for the governor heightened once Walz became the vice presidential running mate to former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Exercise heightened caution during this period.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When the results came back benign, Reece’s anxiety only deepened.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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When oil prices slid and mismanagement came due, the country staggered into hyperinflation, shortages, and mass migration, culminating in a full‑blown humanitarian crisis that outlived Chávez and deepened under his successor, Nicolás Maduro.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Jan. 2026
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
-
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 8 Jan. 2026.
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