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 The unit’s new plan centers on returning focus to its flagship Xbox console, which represents 80% of its business, funneling its content budget toward high-growth areas such as the Minecraft game, and stepping away from smaller studios. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 6 July 2026 Nolan now lives a relatively private life since stepping away from acting. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 Balogun was red-carded, after a video review, for stepping on the ankle of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic while going for a ball. — Sean Gregory, Time, 5 July 2026 Balogun, the Americans’ leading scorer with three goals, was shown a red card during Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of Tarik Muharemović. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026 Yet within moments of stepping outside, the appeal of Molde was obvious. — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 With the majority of his players stepping onto a college campus for the first time, Turgeon knows the identity of this year’s team is still taking shape. — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026 Thomas shoved Clark to the floor, and proceeded to put her fist into Clark's throat before stepping on her. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026 There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping off a flight still feeling comfortable and polished, which is exactly why the Lillusory Two-piece Lounge Set caught my eye. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping

Verb

Police officers were seen walking along the barricades to keep pedestrians away.

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
Here is what veterinarians say about spotting heatstroke, walking dogs safely on hot pavement and cooling your pet at home.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Definition of walking

Verb

The pair is eyeing late summer for a doors-open debut, with an open-air block party that will close Imperial Street for dancing.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
The girls beamed dancing with the smiling Johnson, who honored his co-star Catherine Laga'aia (the live-action Moana) in the dance.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of dancing

Verb

Authorities are rushing to stabilize a New York City building after it was deemed structurally unstable, prompting evacuations throughout the surrounding area.

— Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 8 July 2026
Beginning with a driving organ, the bouncy soul-pop tune is a meditation on rushing into love.

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2026

Definition of rushing

Verb

Initially, both teams looked to be treading carefully, wary of a misstep now in the knockout stage.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
By treading lightly with finishes, opening up the loft area to more light, and getting clever with storage, Marie channeled the unit’s coastal locale, conjuring up an aesthetic lexicon that suggests the interior of a boat with its clean, functional lines.

— Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2026

Definition of treading

Verb

Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026

Definition of hurrying

Verb

Production runs from a Los Angeles home base plus two traveling studios that move to the best matches each day, borrowing the fanfest grammar of Big Noon Kickoff.

— Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
For those traveling in first class, the Coast Starlight offers a full dining car experience, with meals included throughout the journey.

— Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026

Definition of traveling

Verb

The movie’s globe-trotting opening sequence features pirates, outlaws and a mummy used as toilet paper.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 1 July 2026
In true treasure hunting style, the movie is a globe-trotting adventure with stops in Bangkok, Vienna, Vatican City and Cairo as well as a brief visit to London.

— Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of trotting

Verb

At the heart of every Freak is its distinctive flying carousel architecture.

— Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Surveillance footage captured by a camera on the affected home, shared by Avila's daughter Jennifer Barbour on Facebook, shows the vehicle flying off the road before striking the home.

— Greta Cross, USA Today, 7 July 2026