Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

step up

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.11 in modern English

Syllables: step up
IPA

10

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To increase, augment, or advance, especially by one or more steps.

Transitive verb

verb

To assume or take responsibility.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"Near-synonym: level up"
"They will need to step up production if they are going to compete."
"Step up your shower game!"
"As in the whole country, cadres and poor and lower-middle peasants in our Taning County, inspired by the spirit of the National Conference on Learning From Tachai in Agriculture, were greatly stimulated and high in spirits and resolved to fight hard in the movement of learning from Tachai in agriculture and building Tachai-type counties everywhere. In the face of the excellent situation, the anti-party clique of the "gang of four,"--Wang, Chang, Chiang and Yao--stepped up their antiparty activities and strengthend their attacks on the party."
"United were made to pay for letting an eight-point lead as little as five weeks ago slip and, despite their final-day efforts, they will look back on a season where, when they needed to step up, they fell flat."
"Won't anyone step up to the challenge?"

Etymology

Ellipsis of step up to the plate (“take one's turn at bat, take responsibility”).

Usage

Inflected Forms

steps up (present, singular) stepping up (participle, present) stepped up (participle, past) stepped up (past)

Frequently Paired Words

upgrade ramp up

Synonyms

level up volunteer offer escalate intensify rev up come to the fore step forward come forward step to the fore come out

Antonyms

step aside step down

Questions

What does step up mean?: To increase, augment, or advance, especially by one or more steps.
Where does step up come from?: Ellipsis of step up to the plate (“take one's turn at bat, take responsibility”).

How to pronounce step up

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “step up”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “step up” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.