as in to intensify
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
candidates stepping up their campaigns as election day draws near stepped up the pace to catch up with the others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in increase
something added (as by growth)
there's been a step-up in productivity since regular breaks were offered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of step up
Liz Lee, USA Today, 3 June 2025
China stepped up cloud seeding in the face of severe drought.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 3 June 2025
Ben Croll, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
Two exercises that can help grow all these muscles include step-ups and bodyweight squats.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for step up
Verb
Hegseth urged Asian allies to step up defense spending.
—Liz Lee, USA Today, 3 June 2025
China stepped up cloud seeding in the face of severe drought.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
Hell, by way of pleasure and ambition, this slight-but-winsome dramedy offers a step-up from recent vintages; by way of international resonance, however, this latest opener seems unlikely for a world tour.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
Two exercises that can help grow all these muscles include step-ups and bodyweight squats.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for step up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step up
Verb
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Supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during recent global disruptions have highlighted the fragility of our food systems and have intensified competition while simultaneously opening new markets.—
Persa Sakellaridi,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
In New York City, activists have intensified their efforts to protest the rising number of migrant deportations, staging multiple demonstrations in opposition of the administration’s controversial moves against immigrants.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2025
-
The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2025
Verb
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As disparate data sources come together through intelligent ETL processes enhanced by AI, the next step is managing the security, authentication and role-level access of the different departments and users.—
Lori Schafer,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
At Buena Nota Bakery & Coffee Shop, a caffeine boost is anything but ordinary.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2025
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Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, noted the boost Tesla’s shares got last year as Musk and Trump’s relationship blossomed.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Verb
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As Meech and Terry confront new enemies and deal with the consequences of their time in Mexico, the tension between them deepens, testing a bond that once felt unbreakable.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
6 June 2025
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In that film, Cazale is visibly sick, but that only deepens his performance as the sad fool in a macho band of brothers.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
They are seen as disruptive, aggressive and focused solely on short-term gains.—
Alexander Savin,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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During the hearing, Hegseth is widely expected to dodge many of the specifics on the military's spending blueprint, which has not been released, and instead highlight recent gains in recruiting numbers and new technology initiatives in the Army.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
10 June 2025
Verb
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That fear has only heightened this week with the attack in Boulder, the third violent attack on the Jewish community in the last two months.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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The pair’s meanders through the Turkish metropolis heighten the atmosphere of the quest – namely the search for beauty in things that aren’t perfect.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
3 June 2025
Noun
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In addition, there will be two virtual public hearings on Tuesday, June 3, at noon and 6 p.m. Residents can join using Cisco Webex.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2025
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In addition, the company will partner with other creators and experts to discuss their pain prevention routines, including this new product, sleep, exercise and more.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Step up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step%20up. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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