- step
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 in walking, running, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ large, small▪ heavy, light▪ quick, slow▪ hesitant▪ involuntary▪
I gasped and took an involuntary step back.
▪ careful▪ shaky, unsteadyVERB + STEP▪ go, take▪He'd only gone a few steps when he realized he'd left his keys behind.
▪ retrace▪You might find your ticket if you retrace your steps back to the car.
PREPOSITION▪ step (away) from▪She was only a step away from the cliff edge.
▪ step towards/toward▪He took a hesitant step towards/toward her.
PHRASES▪ a spring in your step▪I had a spring in my step when I walked into that office for the last time.
▪ a step ahead, a step behind (both often figurative)▪He lagged a few steps behind.
▪She's always one step ahead of the competition.
▪ a step back, a step backwards/backward▪ a step forward▪ a step sideways▪ a step closer▪We've moved a step closer to independence.
▪ with each step, with every step▪He grew fainter with every step.
2 in dancingADJECTIVE▪ dance▪ jive, tango, etc.VERB + STEP▪ execute, perform▪He executed some dance steps for the judges.
▪ learn▪ keep in▪She had trouble keeping in step with the others.
PREPOSITION▪ in step, out of step (with)▪He was out of step with the music.
3 action taken in order to achieve sthADJECTIVE▪ big, considerable, giant, huge, massive (esp. BrE)▪ small▪ critical, crucial, decisive, essential, great, historic, important, key, major, significant, vital▪ first, initial, preliminary▪ final, last▪ additional, extra, further, next▪What's the next step?
▪ logical, necessary, reasonable▪We shall take all necessary steps to prevent public disorder.
▪ active▪ forward, positive▪ backward, retrograde (esp. BrE)▪The new law is seen by many as a backward step.
▪ bold, brave▪ dramatic, drastic, extraordinary, rare, unprecedented, unusual▪ irreversible, irrevocable▪It suddenly struck her that having a baby was an irrevocable step.
▪ careful, precautionary▪ faltering, tentative▪They have taken their first tentative steps towards/toward democracy.
▪ practical▪ welcome▪ immediate, urgent▪I shall take immediate steps to have this matter put right.
▪ false▪One false step could mean disaster.
… OF STEPS▪ number, seriesVERB + STEP▪ go, make, take▪ follow▪If you follow all the steps, nothing will go wrong.
PREPOSITION▪ step in▪The move was a first step in establishing a union.
▪ step towards/toward▪The talks mark a step towards/toward peace.
PHRASES▪ a step closer (to sth)▪Greece moved a step closer to the final with last night's win.
▪ a short step from sth to sth▪It's only a short step from disorder to complete chaos.
▪ a step back, a step backwards/backward▪This can only be seen as a step backward.
▪ a step forward▪The offer constitutes a considerable step forward.
▪We seemed to be taking three steps forward and one step back.
▪ step by step▪a step-by-step guide to setting up an aquarium
▪ a step further▪If he goes one step further with this crazy idea, I'll resign.
▪ a step in the right direction▪The new speed limit does not solve the problem, but it is a step in the right direction.
▪ a step on the road to sth, a step on the way to sth4 on stairs, a ladder, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ bottom, top▪ door (usually doorstep)VERB + STEP▪ mind (esp. BrE)▪Mind the step!
PREPOSITION▪ on a/the step▪She paused on the top step.
PHRASES▪ a step down, a step up▪There are three steps down to the kitchen.
5 steps set of stepsADJECTIVE▪ front▪ back▪ porch (esp. AmE)▪ concrete, marble, wooden, etc.… OF STEPS▪ flight▪You have to go up four flights of steps to get up to the roof.
VERB + STEPS▪ go up, run up, walk up▪She went up the steps to the side entrance.
▪ ascend, climb, mount▪ descend▪ go down, run down, walk down▪ sit onSTEPS + VERB▪ lead to sth▪The front steps lead to an enormous terrace.
PREPOSITION▪ step to▪the steps to the roof
▪ step down to, step up to▪the steps down to the pool
PHRASES▪ the bottom of the steps, the foot of the steps, the top of the steps{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}verbADVERB▪ briskly, quickly▪ hastily, smartly (esp. BrE)▪He stepped back hastily from the edge.
▪ slowly▪ quietly, silently▪ delicately, lightly▪ carefully, cautiously, gingerly▪He stepped gingerly over the cat.
▪ boldly▪ aside, away, back, backwards/backward, close, down, forth (esp. AmE), forward, inside, out, outside, up▪Would you like to step inside for a few minutes?
PREPOSITION▪ across, from, in, in front of, into, on, onto, out of, over, towards/toward▪Don't step in the puddle.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
