step
♦♦♦ step /st'ep/ (steps stepping stepped)
1 [N-COUNT]
If you take a step, you lift your foot and put it down in a different place, for example when you are walking.
I took a step towards him...
She walked on a few steps...
He heard steps in the corridor.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv
If you step on something or step in a particular direction, you put your foot on the thing or move your foot in that direction.
This was the moment when Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the Moon...
She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train...
3 [N-COUNT]
Steps are a series of surfaces at increasing or decreasing heights, on which you put your feet in order to walk up or down to a different level.
This little room was along a passage and down some steps...
A flight of stone steps leads to the terrace.
4 [N-COUNT]
A step is a raised flat surface in front of a door.
A little girl was sitting on the step of the end house...
see also doorstep
5 [N-COUNT] oft N prep/adv
A step is one of a series of actions that you take in order to achieve something.
He greeted the agreement as the first step towards peace...
She is not content with her present lot and wishes to take steps to improve it...
6 [N-COUNT]
A step in a process is one of a series of stages.
The next step is to put the theory into practice...
= stage
7 [N-COUNT]
The steps of a dance are the sequences of foot movements which make it up.
= movement
8 [N-SING] poss N
Someone's step is the way they walk.
He quickened his step...
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If you stay one step ahead of someone or something, you manage to achieve more than they do or avoid competition or danger from them.
Successful travel is partly a matter of keeping one step ahead of the crowd...
10 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If people who are walking or dancing are in step, they are moving their feet forward at exactly the same time as each other. If they are out of step, their feet are moving forward at different times.
They were almost the same height and they moved perfectly in step...
11 [PHRASE] usu PHR with n
If people are in step with each other, their ideas or opinions are the same. If they are out of step with each other, their ideas or opinions are different.
Moscow is anxious to stay in step with Washington...
12 [PHRASE]
If you tell someone to step on it, you are telling them to go faster or hurry up. (INFORMAL)
We've only got thirty-five minutes so step on it.
= get a move on
13 [PHRASE] PHR with v, PHR n
If you do something step by step, you do it by progressing gradually from one stage to the next.
I am not rushing things and I'm taking it step by step...
Follow our simple step-by-step instructions.
14 [PHRASE]
If someone tells you to watch your step, they are warning you to be careful about how you behave or what you say so that you do not get into trouble.step aside
see step downstep back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P from n
If you step back and think about a situation, you think about it as if you were not involved in it.
I stepped back and analysed the situation...
It was necessary to step back from the project and look at it as a whole.
= stand backstep change (step changes)
[N-COUNT] usu sing, usu N in n
A step change is a sudden or major change in the way that something happens or the way that someone behaves.
We now need a step change in our secondary schools to match that achieved in our primaries.step down
or step aside
[PHRASAL VERB] V P as n, V P
If someone steps down or steps aside, they resign from an important job or position, often in order to let someone else take their place.
Judge Ito said that if his wife was called as a witness, he would step down as trial judge...
Many would prefer to see him step aside in favour of a younger man.
= stand downstep in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you step in, you get involved in a difficult situation because you think you can or should help with it.
There are circumstances in which the State must step in to protect children.
= intervenestep out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P of n, also V P
If someone steps out of a role or situation, they leave it.
I don't regret stepping out of the security of marriage.step up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you step up something, you increase it or increase its intensity.
He urged donors to step up their efforts to send aid to Somalia...
= increase
1 [N-COUNT]
If you take a step, you lift your foot and put it down in a different place, for example when you are walking.
I took a step towards him...
She walked on a few steps...
He heard steps in the corridor.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv
If you step on something or step in a particular direction, you put your foot on the thing or move your foot in that direction.
This was the moment when Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the Moon...
She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train...
3 [N-COUNT]
Steps are a series of surfaces at increasing or decreasing heights, on which you put your feet in order to walk up or down to a different level.
This little room was along a passage and down some steps...
A flight of stone steps leads to the terrace.
4 [N-COUNT]
A step is a raised flat surface in front of a door.
A little girl was sitting on the step of the end house...
see also doorstep
5 [N-COUNT] oft N prep/adv
A step is one of a series of actions that you take in order to achieve something.
He greeted the agreement as the first step towards peace...
She is not content with her present lot and wishes to take steps to improve it...
6 [N-COUNT]
A step in a process is one of a series of stages.
The next step is to put the theory into practice...
= stage
7 [N-COUNT]
The steps of a dance are the sequences of foot movements which make it up.
= movement
8 [N-SING] poss N
Someone's step is the way they walk.
He quickened his step...
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If you stay one step ahead of someone or something, you manage to achieve more than they do or avoid competition or danger from them.
Successful travel is partly a matter of keeping one step ahead of the crowd...
10 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If people who are walking or dancing are in step, they are moving their feet forward at exactly the same time as each other. If they are out of step, their feet are moving forward at different times.
They were almost the same height and they moved perfectly in step...
11 [PHRASE] usu PHR with n
If people are in step with each other, their ideas or opinions are the same. If they are out of step with each other, their ideas or opinions are different.
Moscow is anxious to stay in step with Washington...
12 [PHRASE]
If you tell someone to step on it, you are telling them to go faster or hurry up. (INFORMAL)
We've only got thirty-five minutes so step on it.
= get a move on
13 [PHRASE] PHR with v, PHR n
If you do something step by step, you do it by progressing gradually from one stage to the next.
I am not rushing things and I'm taking it step by step...
Follow our simple step-by-step instructions.
14 [PHRASE]
If someone tells you to watch your step, they are warning you to be careful about how you behave or what you say so that you do not get into trouble.step aside
see step downstep back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P from n
If you step back and think about a situation, you think about it as if you were not involved in it.
I stepped back and analysed the situation...
It was necessary to step back from the project and look at it as a whole.
= stand backstep change (step changes)
[N-COUNT] usu sing, usu N in n
A step change is a sudden or major change in the way that something happens or the way that someone behaves.
We now need a step change in our secondary schools to match that achieved in our primaries.step down
or step aside
[PHRASAL VERB] V P as n, V P
If someone steps down or steps aside, they resign from an important job or position, often in order to let someone else take their place.
Judge Ito said that if his wife was called as a witness, he would step down as trial judge...
Many would prefer to see him step aside in favour of a younger man.
= stand downstep in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you step in, you get involved in a difficult situation because you think you can or should help with it.
There are circumstances in which the State must step in to protect children.
= intervenestep out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P of n, also V P
If someone steps out of a role or situation, they leave it.
I don't regret stepping out of the security of marriage.step up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you step up something, you increase it or increase its intensity.
He urged donors to step up their efforts to send aid to Somalia...
= increase