Meaning of step In English

• 0 to move by lifting your foot and putting it down in a different place, or to put your foot on or in something:

  • She stepped backwards and fell over a chair.

  • They stepped out onto the balcony.

  • Be careful not to step in the mud.

  • Ow, you stepped on my foot!

  • mainly US Sorry but Mr Taylor has just stepped (= gone) out for a few minutes, but I'll tell him you called.

  • formal Step this way please, sir.

• 1 a stage in a process:

  • What's the next step in the process?

  • We must stay one step ahead of our competitors.

  • Most people believe that the decision to cut interest rates was a step in the right direction.

  • Let's take things a step/one step at a time (= slowly).

  • Following the success of our products in Europe, our logical next step is to move into the American market.

  • The country is taking its first tentative steps towards democracy.

  • We need to take drastic steps to reduce pollution.

  • The president took the unusual step of altering his prepared speech in order to condemn the terrorist attack.

  • step-by-step instructions

  • Don't worry - I'll go through the procedure with you step by step.

• 2 one of the surfaces that you walk on when you go up or down stairs:

  • a flight of steps

  • We had to climb some steps to reach the front door.

  • I asked them to leave the parcel on the (front) step (= outside the door to the house).

  • Mind the step as you leave the train.

  • It's difficult for people in wheelchairs to negotiate (= move up and down) steps.

  • One of the steps on the ladder is broken.

  • kitchen steps

  • library steps

• 3 the act of lifting one foot and putting it down on a different part of the ground, such as when you walk or run:

  • Sophie took her first steps when she was eleven months old.

  • He rose to his feet and took a couple of steps towards her.

  • With every step, her feet hurt her more and more.

  • I retraced my steps, looking for my lost keys.

  • I'd only gone a few steps when I realized I'd forgotten to lock the door.

  • She walked out of the office with a spring in her step (= in a way that showed she was happy).

  • The driver told us to mind/watch our step (= walk carefully) as we got off the bus.

  • She's teaching me some basic dance steps.

  • The soldiers marched in step.

  • Television companies need to keep in step with public opinion.

  • I'm no good at dancing - I always get completely out of step.

  • The Republicans are out of step with the country, Williams said.

  • He thinks that everyone is out of step except him.

• 4 the difference in pitch between two notes that are next to each other in the western musical scale

• 5 related to someone through a second marriage :

  • stepfather

  • stepmother

  • stepchildren

• 6 to lift one foot and put it down in front of the other foot, as in walking or running:

  • He stepped to his left, picked up the ball, and threw.

  • We stepped carefully along the slippery path.

• 7 a stage in a process:

  • The first step in fixing our house is to put on a new roof.

  • Let’s make these changes carefully, a step at a time.

• 8 one action in a series, taken for a particular purpose:

  • As a first step, both sides agreed to a cease-fire.

• 9 a flat surface on which you put your foot when going up or down from one level to another:

  • Mom took a picture of us sitting on the front steps of the house.

• 10 the largest difference in sound between two notes next to each other in a musical scale (= series of notes):

  • Tones in a scale are arranged in steps and half steps.

• 11 the act of lifting one foot and putting it down in front of the other foot, as in walking or running:

  • He took a couple of steps into the room.

  • I’d only gone about three steps before I fell.

  • I heard my father’s step on the stairs.

  • I’ve finally learned some dance steps.

  • Three angry women marched in step down the hall.

• 12 to do someone else's work when they are unable to do it:

  • Bill's illness meant that Kathy had to step into the breach.

• 13 used to tell someone to drive faster or to hurry:

  • Could you step on it? I'm late.

  • If we want to get these orders out on time, we're going to have to step on it.

• 14 to behave in a way that is unacceptable or not expected:

  • If he steps out of line, he could be fired.

• 15 a stage in a process:

  • the first/next step What's the first step in the programme?

  • Following the success of our products in Europe, the logical next step is to move into the American market.

  • a step ahead/behind We have to stay a step ahead of our competitors.

• 16 an action taken for a particular purpose:

  • take steps to do sth We need to take drastic steps to reduce pollution.

• 17 having opinions or ideas that are the same as those of other people:

  • keep/stay in step with sth/sb Television companies need to keep in step with public opinion.

• 18 having opinions or ideas that are different from those of other people:

  • out of step with sth/sb Our supervisor seems to be out of step with the rest of management.

• 19 slowly and carefully:

  • If we do this one step at a time we won't make any mistakes.

• 20 dealing with one thing and then another thing in a fixed order:

  • Don't worry - I'll go through the procedure with you step by step.

  • She gave me detailed step-by-step instructions.

• 21 an improvement or positive development:

  • This may not be a complete solution, but it's a step forward.

  • Most people believe that the decision to cut interest rates was a step in the right direction.