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 That path from leading man to auteur is a familiar one in Hollywood, with notables like Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood and Kevin Costner establishing themselves as major directors without stepping away from leading in their own films. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 Cleveland Clinic suggests capping continuous phone or tablet sessions at about 15 to 30 minutes before stepping away. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026 This October, the nonprofit LUMA8’s Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade returns to its original location along Columbus Drive for its 12th year, with the parade stepping off at Balbo Drive and marching north through Jackson Boulevard. — Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 The officer on the passenger side drew his weapon; the officer on the driver's side grabbed onto the top of the driver's side window, according to the complaint, instead of stepping away from the car. — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 Waking up and stepping from your bed to dive into the sea from your private deck is sublime. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 McCarthy does take some liberties by occasionally stepping away from the conference sessions to show us the participants in a more relaxed mode, speaking off the cuff, sometimes even arguing in more direct fashion. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026 That said, the accusations of stepping on her toes and stealing her daughter-in-law away from her don’t hold much water. — R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026 For Ovechkin, the decision was between stepping away from the league or returning to the Capitals. — Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping

Verb

Two teenage suspects, ages 14 and 15, allegedly grabbed a necklace from the victim’s neck after walking by them, according to police.

— Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
The Langham’s Pampered Pets programme extends five-star treatment to your furry friends for a fee, with pet-sitting and dog-walking services.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of walking

Verb

The all-singing, all-dancing comedy drama will also debut in China on Tencent Kids, Youku Kids and BesTV (dates still to be confirmed).

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
And then the other thing was that my friends who were in the audience told me that people in the audience were making out, not only dancing, but actually making out.

— Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of dancing

Verb

Chuba Hubbard provided the hammer on the ground for Carolina, rushing 20 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Quarterback Ashton Daniels led the way for the Seminoles against Virginia, rushing for 136 yards and a program-record five touchdowns while also completing 12 of 19 passes for another 183 yards.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of rushing

Verb

Many of the units come with full kitchens and have one or two bedrooms making it ideally for families or those traveling in a group.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
The traveling Asian food and cultural festival will make its Kansas City debut at Legends Field, offering visitors opportunities to explore dishes from across Asia, shop from more than 40 merchandise vendors and experience cultural traditions.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of traveling

Verb

For well-heeled, globe-trotting diners, Noma offered an escape from modernity and the sensation of communing with something more elemental and earthbound.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Jeon Do-yeon, who plays the family’s matriarch, is colorfully slinky as a globe-trotting party widow, a vain, compulsively seductive narcissist who macks on her daughters’ men like a Real Housewife given a villain’s edit.

— Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of trotting

Verb

Bombers flying from South Dakota to targets in Iran would cost more in fuel and flying time than those taking off from England's Cotswolds region, which is 3,900 miles closer to Tehran.

— Steve Hendrix, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Experts who study bats say that, although residents should practice caution, the odds of getting rabies from the flying creatures remain very low.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026