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 Research has shown that meaningful social relationships are an important part of overall health and, for some participants, simply stepping outside their comfort zones can be a confidence boost. — Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Bryce Eldridge started his day by turning a one-man double play at first base after handling a sharp grounder and tagging out the runner retreating to first while stepping on the bag. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026 The ban has been in place long enough that an entire cohort of girls has passed through adolescence without stepping foot in a secondary school classroom. — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026 Merkerson officially returned as a regular series lead in 1993, playing Van Buren for 17 seasons and appearing in over 390 episodes before stepping away from the role in 2010. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 The shooter walked by the stagecoach, stepping past the person hiding there. — Mark Dee august 14, Idaho Statesman, 14 Aug. 2026 There’s literally no stepping away from the table for a classic Below Deck mid-dinner conversation. — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 Joan Jett is stepping away from the stage after suffering a serious injury that required surgery. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The Hurricanes are also replacing four starters on the offensive line, and Cantwell has impressed his coaches and teammates since stepping on campus. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping

Verb

For example, someone who is comfortable walking for 30 minutes could walk at their usual pace for several minutes, then pick it up for a minute or two before slowing down again.

— Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Twins and Phillies players spent their pregame free time walking among fans, taking photos and sharing memories.

— Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of walking

Verb

Temwa Chawinga, who plays for the Kansas City Current in the NWSL, logged her fifth goal of the tournament, dancing around falling Algerian goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi and scoring into the open net in first-half stoppage time.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Totality also brought glimpses of pinkish-red prominences—fountains of plasma arcing above the sun’s surface, dancing at the moon’s edge.

— Claire Cameron & Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of dancing

Verb

That’s how Drake Maye ended his latest two-minute drill at Patriots training camp Monday, a meandering march that began around midfield and ended with Maye hurrying the offense to the 3-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of hurrying

Verb

The trucks wait until all those in the area are ready before traveling in convoys to packing plants, accompanied by police patrols to prevent robberies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Murphy, traveling the country promoting his recent book and opining on the state of the Democrats, returned to Connecticut to boost Larson and trash Bronin.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of traveling

Verb

On the other is a relief depiction of a Kremlin in flames, with a drone flying over it.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Over the coming months, avionics, scientific instruments and thermal insulation will gradually transform the frame into the flying science laboratory destined for the outer solar system.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026