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Definition step in British English

step noun

noun
/step/

▪ cautious, decisive, drastic, important, logical, positive, tentative, unprecedented, unusual

1

a short movement made by putting one foot in front of the other

Example

I am too tired to take another step.

Example

He moved a step nearer the two men.

Example

We were lost and decided to retrace our steps.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

the sound that your feet make while you are walking

Example

I could hear the steps coming closer.

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1.2

the short distance that your feet move while you are walking

Example

The postbox is just a few steps from my front door.

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2

a particular movement or set of movements performed with your feet when you are dancing

Example

Juan was practising his new dance steps for the competition.

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3

the particular way that someone walks, that sometimes shows how they are feeling

Example

John felt fantastic and there was a new spring in his step.

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4

one of a series of actions that you do in order to achieve a particular aim

Example

This new law is the first step in making our city safer.

Example

This agreement is an important step towards our goal.

Example

For Jack, this job was a mere step along the road to power.

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5

a flat piece of wood or stone, usually one in a series, that you walk up or down in order to move to a different level

Example

I met him on the front steps of the bank.

Example

The woman took them down some steps leading to the beach.

Example

I climbed a flight of steep narrow steps.

Example

waiting at the foot of the cellar steps

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6

one of the stages in a process, or one of the levels on a scale

Example

steps in your learning process

Example

Her new job is a big step up for her.

Example

a step up on the pay scale

Example

She was congratulating herself on her cleverness, but he was one step ahead of her.

Example

When you finish the exercise, repeat steps five to ten.

7

a type of exercise that you do by quickly moving onto and off a low piece of equipment

Example

She teaches a step class.

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8

a tone in music

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Definition step in British English