1
as in walking
to go on foot
I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
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
3
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
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Recent Examples of stepping
To Johnnie Price, walking into the Forest Theater felt like stepping inside a royal palace.
—
Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
Colmenarez said during his detention on April 16, 2013, he was forced to kneel down and place his head between his legs while the officers hit his back and neck, kicking and stepping on him with their military boots.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
No stepping off the sidewalk into a puddle of slush that overtops your work shoes, soaking your socks for the rest of the day.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
Who the hell was stepping all over my moment?
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Seeing the whole project laid out and discovering just how much African decolonization movements in the ’60s and beyond brought to the fore African filmmakers and filmmakers around the diaspora who were really stepping behind the camera for the first time and telling their stories.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
From the mezzanine, the space feels grand, but stepping onto the stage reveals a surprising intimacy, a layout that allows artists to feel close enough to reach out and touch the crowd.
—Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
This portable lock box is especially helpful during beach days or café stops when stepping away from things feels like a gamble.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Even Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and an architect behind ChatGPT, makes a point of stepping away from technology altogether.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
Colmenarez said during his detention on April 16, 2013, he was forced to kneel down and place his head between his legs while the officers hit his back and neck, kicking and stepping on him with their military boots.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
No stepping off the sidewalk into a puddle of slush that overtops your work shoes, soaking your socks for the rest of the day.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
Who the hell was stepping all over my moment?
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Seeing the whole project laid out and discovering just how much African decolonization movements in the ’60s and beyond brought to the fore African filmmakers and filmmakers around the diaspora who were really stepping behind the camera for the first time and telling their stories.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
From the mezzanine, the space feels grand, but stepping onto the stage reveals a surprising intimacy, a layout that allows artists to feel close enough to reach out and touch the crowd.
—Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
This portable lock box is especially helpful during beach days or café stops when stepping away from things feels like a gamble.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Even Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and an architect behind ChatGPT, makes a point of stepping away from technology altogether.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping
Verb
-
Cronin has become a walking viral video.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To mark the third anniversary of his death, Holker in December shared clips of the pair dancing together and photos of them with their children.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Whether at Artistic Edge Dance Centre in Hartland or on a competition stage, Jay Ramos-Rivera is constantly dancing.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even as other European countries are rushing to foster relations with Beijing, the Lithuanians intend to stick with the Americans.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In the footage, aired by CNN affiliate WJAR, players from both teams are seen taking cover as at least a dozen shots are fired, with players and coaches rushing for the gates leading out of the rink’s benches.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bresland, the rescue commander, told the ABC the family was treading water in rough seas for hours and the mother managed to keep the other children with the paddleboard.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Surplus models represent both an opportunity and a potential trap for consumers looking to secure a bargain on a new vehicle, and brokers urged treading carefully.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of hurrying to break up tents and scatter RVs, Lee and Oakland’s interim homelessness chief Sasha Hauswald want city workers to focus on minimizing trash and human waste around encampments.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Meza Gonzalez and David Christian, one of her attorneys, refused to answer questions from reporters about the plea agreement, hurrying down a flight of stairs at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center.—
Megan Rodriguez,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For example, Grab uses AI to automate menu translations in its food delivery app, allowing customers to easily access restaurant menus, even when traveling abroad.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Terryville resident Chalaine Kilduff and her 2-year-old son Beckham were traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last December when, like many 2-year-olds, Beckham started to cry during a long travel day.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The correspondence places Barrack, a globe-trotting billionaire, among a circle of wealthy and influential figures who maintained social contact with Epstein even as his criminal history became widely known.—
Daniel Ruetenik,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
His first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy that changes his life forever.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
House Bill 561, sponsored by Hill and focused on blocking Boise from flying a Pride flag, was sent to the House’s amending order after a debate on the House floor.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Feb. 2026
-
A number of the parents who witnessed that 2024 apology are flying in from around the country in hopes of securing a courtroom seat to watch Zuckerberg’s witness testimony.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stepping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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