stepping
4 synonyms for stepping, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The action of putting one foot in front of the other; walking.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use stepping
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stepping stone
stepping on toes
CPU stepping
Etymology
From step plus the -ing suffix, going back to Middle English steppynge.
Full origin of stepping →Frequently asked questions
What does “stepping” mean?
The word “stepping” means the action of putting one foot in front of the other; walking. In plain terms, taking steps — either literally walking, or (in computing) a minor revision of a chip design.
How do you pronounce “stepping”?
“Stepping” is pronounced STEH-pihng (/ˈstɛpɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “stepping” in a sentence?
Here is “stepping” used in a sentence: “She was stepping carefully across the icy pavement.”
What part of speech is “stepping”?
“Stepping” is a noun.
Where does the word “stepping” come from?
The word “stepping” comes from Middle English. From step plus the -ing suffix, going back to Middle English steppynge.
Is “stepping” a common word?
“Stepping” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stepping” have?
“Stepping” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the action of putting one foot in front of the other; walking.
What is the difference between "stepping up" and "stepping down"?
"Stepping up" means taking on more responsibility or rising to a challenge, as in stepping up to lead a team. "Stepping down" means resigning or giving up a position of authority. In the context of roles and responsibility, the two phrases are opposites.
What does "stepping" refer to when talking about CPUs or processors?
In computing, a "stepping" is a version number marking a small revision to a processor design, usually to fix bugs or make minor improvements. A later stepping of the same chip model generally means a more refined version. This technical sense is unrelated to the everyday meaning of walking.
