STEPPING Synonyms: 177 Similar and Opposite Words

stepping

verb

present participle of step

as in walking

to go on foot I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in dancing

to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in rushing

to proceed or move quickly many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of stepping Villains like Ted Bundy are imagined to be relatively invulnerable to pain, even in a scenario as basic as stepping barefoot on a shard of glass. — Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026 Kristaps Porzingis will not be stepping on the basketball court for the foreseeable future. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026 Simon Cowell is back on the beach, months after stepping away from the public eye for back surgery. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2026 Becerra did get out and jog round the track — never a sprint and always stepping cautiously. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026 We were issued metal water bottles for bringing ashore, and followed strict instructions on not bringing any food off the ship, and disinfecting our boots before and after stepping ashore to keep Antarctica pristine. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026 Article continues below this ad After years of organizing markets and vending at festivals, Tunchez began stepping away from her business in late 2024. — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 31 Oct. 2026 Stepping backward also increases reliance on body awareness and control, which can help with everyday movements that involve changing direction or stepping behind you. — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 28 Oct. 2026 Drive your left knee in toward your chest, then quickly stepping it back to plank position. — Sarah Stiefvater, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping

Verb

Syringes struck through the skin of Jews walking the sidewalk.

— Seth Limmer, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
The whole room is right there with me, rooting for me and walking alongside me.

— Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of walking

Verb

The Rock the Holiday Christmas Parade with new floats and characters will feature elves, chefs, bakers and toy makers singing and dancing to classic Christmas songs during the procession through the park.

— Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 12 Nov. 2026
That concern hasn’t gone away now that the Hawaii native is seemingly back to walking and dancing on stage.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of dancing

Verb

Simply put, Miami’s pass defense and run defense were outclassed by New England’s passing offense and rushing offense in the second half.

— Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Many existing clients began rushing to move their eggs and embryos to Albania or arrange last-minute retrievals.

— Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of rushing

Verb

Sent from pillar to post – to the bank’s Accounts, Payments and Claims treading dark puddled basement corridors and joining seemingly interminable lines.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Videos also show survivors jumping from a rocky island and swimming to Coast Guard rescue swimmers treading rough seas.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of treading

Verb

But one ride—which feels more like gliding—is included, and so are all the curious looks from those who watch and wonder who is traveling in style.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
That show followed the 2023 debut of the first-ever traveling exhibition of Pablo Picasso landscapes.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of traveling

Verb

Quickley countered by trotting upcourt and sinking another 3 over the rookie.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Christiane Amanpour, who parlayed a job as a news assistant on CNN‘s foreign desk into a years-long globe-trotting assignment for the news giant, plans to step away from the media company in June.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of trotting

Verb

Rumors about the lineup had been flying around for weeks, as per usual in the fall, with multiple reports naming the eventual headliners while the festival stayed mum on the official report.

— Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Flying cars arrive XPeng plans to introduce its two-seat flying vehicle for limited commercial use in the second half of 2027.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026