steps

The word “steps” means a sequence of individual movements or actions taken to get somewhere or accomplish something. In plain terms, either the individual stages of a process, or a physical staircase.

“Steps” is pronounced stehps (/stɛps/ in IPA).

Here is “steps” used in a sentence: “Follow these steps to reset your password.”

“Steps” is a noun.

“Steps” is a very common word in modern English.

“Steps” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sequence of individual movements or actions taken to get somewhere or accomplish something.

To take steps means to begin taking deliberate actions toward a goal or solution. If a company takes steps to cut waste, it is putting specific measures in place rather than just talking about it. Each step is one action within a larger sequence aimed at getting something done.

Steps are the individual actions you take, while stages are the larger phases a process moves through. A single stage of a project may contain many small steps. Think of steps as the moves you make and stages as the broader chapters that those moves add up to.

They overlap but differ slightly. Stairs are a connected set of steps built to move between floors. Steps can mean the same thing, but the word also covers single or outdoor treads — like the steps up to a building — and, more broadly, actions taken toward a goal.

The instructions in a recipe are a good example: each numbered step is one action — chop, mix, bake — that moves you toward the finished dish. Assembly guides, safety procedures, and how-to articles all lay out steps: a sequence of actions taken to accomplish something.