step
verb/step/
/step/
[intransitive]Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they step | /step/ /step/ |
| he / she / it steps | /steps/ /steps/ |
| past simple stepped | /stept/ /stept/ |
| past participle stepped | /stept/ /stept/ |
| -ing form stepping | /ˈstepɪŋ/ /ˈstepɪŋ/ |
- + adv./prep. to lift your foot and move it in a particular direction or put it on or in something; to move a short distance
- to step onto/off a bus
- I stepped forward when my name was called out.
- She stepped aside to let them pass.
- We stepped carefully over the broken glass.
- I turned around quickly and stepped on his toes.
- She opened the door and stepped out into the sunshine.
- (figurative) Going into the hotel is like stepping back in time.
Extra Examples- Don't step in the puddle.
- He stepped back hastily from the edge.
- He stepped gingerly over the cat.
- Would you like to step inside for a few minutes?
- Could you step inside for a moment?
- He stepped back into the shadows.
- He stepped smartly aside to avoid her.
- I accidentally stepped on her toe.
- Myra stepped gingerly through the rows of plants.
- The boy had stepped out into the road without looking.
- We had to step carefully to avoid the broken glass.
- Please step this way, Mr Jones.
- She stepped outside to discover it was snowing.
- I stepped away from the car, raising my hands.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- briskly
- quickly
- hastily
- …
- across
- from
- in
- …
Word OriginOld English stæpe, stepe (noun), stæppan, steppan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch steppen and German stapfen.
Idioms
See step in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee step in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishstep into the breach
- to do somebody’s job or work when they are suddenly or unexpectedly unable to do it
- She stepped into the breach caused by Stella's illness.
step into somebody’s shoes
- to continue a job or the work that somebody else has started
- She stepped into her father’s shoes when he retired.
step on it
- (informal) used especially in orders to tell somebody to drive faster
step on somebody’s toes (North American English)
(also tread on somebody’s toes especially in British English)
- (informal) to offend or annoy somebody, especially by getting involved in something that is their responsibility
- I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes so I’ll keep quiet.
step out of line | be/get out of line
- to behave badly or break the rules
- His boss warned him that if he stepped out of line once more he would be fired.
step up to the plate
- (especially North American English) to do what is necessary in order to benefit from an opportunity or deal with a crisis
- It's important for world leaders to step up to the plate and honor their commitments on global warming.
- It’s time for businesses to step up to the plate and accept responsibility.
Check pronunciation:
step