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
Daniels stepped up to the right to avoid pressure from outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu and found Samuel sitting in a soft spot in the Chargers’ zone.
—
Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Security is being stepped up at Jewish sites across the country.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
According to sources, the studio stepped up with a 7-figure purchase price and additional million dollars in script/development fees, making this one of the biggest IP sales of the year, especially for an unpublished short story.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Gabby Vigeant stepped up with 18 kills and seven aces, while Abby Baker chipped in with five aces as Newburyport (8-3) defeated Bishop Fenwick, 3-1.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Tensions have risen since Taiwan’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party took power in 2016, and the PLA has stepped up military activity around the island.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
In the face of chaos, neighbors stepped up.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year, the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, stepped up immigration enforcement, deploying police officers to dozens of maternity wards in the country.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The guitarist from Lee’s song stepped up to perform her own original tune.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Security is being stepped up at Jewish sites across the country.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
According to sources, the studio stepped up with a 7-figure purchase price and additional million dollars in script/development fees, making this one of the biggest IP sales of the year, especially for an unpublished short story.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Gabby Vigeant stepped up with 18 kills and seven aces, while Abby Baker chipped in with five aces as Newburyport (8-3) defeated Bishop Fenwick, 3-1.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Tensions have risen since Taiwan’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party took power in 2016, and the PLA has stepped up military activity around the island.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
In the face of chaos, neighbors stepped up.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year, the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, stepped up immigration enforcement, deploying police officers to dozens of maternity wards in the country.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The guitarist from Lee’s song stepped up to perform her own original tune.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up
Verb
-
According to the Money Doctor, the administration’s interest in a plan that would substitute the dollar for the flailing Argentine peso has greatly intensified in recent weeks as Milei’s political fortunes have weakened.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Pressure on journalists and opposition figures has intensified since Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s mayor and a political rival of the President, was arrested in March.—
Afşin Yurdakul,
Time,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But, if anything, the proximity has only enhanced the berry appetites of their boys, who tend to eat their favorite snack straight off the vine.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Besides a brand-new design, the cards also have enhanced anti-counterfeit protections.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Political fevers heightened with the near‑constant barrage of national cable news, usually spun by left‑ or right‑leaning media and amplified by taunting tweets.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
-
As investment falls elsewhere in the world and local budgets are increasingly stretched, the need to pivot to attract younger viewers and better cater to other audiences has heightened to new levels, according to panel of commissioners today at the MIA Market in Italy.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Public frustration over austerity measures and a government seen as detached from everyday realities has only deepened.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
-
As the United States' homelessness crisis has deepened, Trump isn't alone in believing this kind of intervention should be used more often.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The two college students (and daughters of Good Morning America co-anchor Michael Strahan) live on opposite coasts, but say the health scare strengthened their already-tight connection.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Nevertheless, the stadium had by then become synonymous with big football occasions — a status that was only strengthened by three European Cup finals being staged between 1963 and 1971.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The bombshell case was later consolidated as part of a $400 million lawsuit against The New York Times, Lively and the actress' husband Ryan Reynolds.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Republicans quickly consolidated Democrats, Antifa, and trans people into one radical enemy.—
Grace Byron,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stepped up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20up. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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