STEPPING Synonyms: 177 Similar and Opposite Words

stepping

verb

present participle of step

as in walking

to go on foot I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in dancing

to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in rushing

to proceed or move quickly many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of stepping When metro Atlanta traffic starts to feel overwhelming and screen time numbers hit a staggering level, consider stepping away from it all for an afternoon among farm animals. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 31 Aug. 2026 After stepping off the Orient Express at Santa Lucia railway station, the couple made their way, hand-in-hand, to a nearby water taxi. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 30 Aug. 2026 Another shows someone climbing into a helicopter, stepping from a roof terrace, onto the landing gear and then into the cockpit, after appearing to take off their t-shirt to wave and attract the aircraft’s attention. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 Jimmy Kimmel's wife, Molly McNearney, has mixed feelings about the comedian potentially stepping away from late-night television after more than two decades. — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Dykes hired Gordon Sammis from UConn as offensive coordinator, deliberately stepping outside his network to bring in a pro-style scheme with more motion, formation shifts and unique personnel packages. — Steven Johnson. Produce With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026 For Bell, retirement from UConn doesn’t mean stepping away from puppetry. — Tran Chau, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026 Leavitt returned from maternity leave in mid-July after temporarily stepping away from her post in April. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026 Now, with Haunted Heist, his feature directorial debut, Howery is stepping behind the camera while also starring in and executive producing the horror comedy. — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping

Verb

In one video from Mailung, in Nepal’s Rasuwa region, a group of construction workers was seen walking down a mountain path before noticing giant plumes of brown debris in the distance, rapidly cascading toward them.

— Laura Saravia, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Instead of being whisked away by sports cars and speedboats, the pair currently rely on only their feet for transportation, walking from their prison cells along a secure, windowless pedestrian walkway to reach a courtroom for legal proceedings.

— Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of walking

Verb

As skirts got shorter and the Jazz Age changed how women dressed, women wanted to show off their feet and looked for secure shoes for dancing.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Repetitive motifs in various shapes were her trademark, resembling netting, swirls or worms, but most often dots, dancing proudly on her canvases or as sparkling balls or dots of light in her installations in all their vibrant, psychedelic glory.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of dancing

Verb

The defense, which also received an influx of talent through the portal, hopes to improve on finishing near the bottom of the conference in scoring, rushing and passing defense categories.

— Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
Raleek Brown transferred from Arizona State after rushing for 1,141 yards last season while Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman, a transfer from Auburn, give Texas one of the most talented wide receiver duos in the country.

— Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of rushing

Verb

That’s how Drake Maye ended his latest two-minute drill at Patriots training camp Monday, a meandering march that began around midfield and ended with Maye hurrying the offense to the 3-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026

Definition of hurrying

Verb

Jiwan Jyoti, a US citizen, was traveling with Himalayan Glacier Adventure and Travel Company and has been listed by the group as missing.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Go Beyond the 4x4 Of course, traveling by Icelandic truck is part of the thrill, but the adventure extends well beyond the vehicle itself.

— Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of traveling

Verb

With his dog trotting closely behind him, Harlow greeted fans as many waited in line for New Balance backpacks and swag.

— Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026
Donald Steven Lang, 62, was taken into custody over the weekend at the request of the United States, federal authorities said Tuesday, ending a far-reaching search for the globe-trotting sailor.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026