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• step-up
  step-up

  adjective

  effecting an increase.
• step up
  step up

  verb

  (tr) to increase or raise by stages; accelerate

step-up

American  

[step-uhp] / ˈstɛpˌʌp /

Or stepup

adjective

1. effecting an increase.

2. Electricity. serving to increase voltage.

   a step-up transformer.

3. (of a lease) allowing for gradual rent increases to the highest amount permissible.

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noun

1. an increase or rise in the rate or quantity of something.

step up British  

verb

1. (tr) to increase or raise by stages; accelerate

2. (intr) to make progress or effect an advancement; be promoted

3. 1. baseball to move into batting position

   2. to come forward and take responsibility for something

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adjective

1. (of a transformer) increasing a low voltage applied to the primary winding to a higher voltage on the secondary winding Compare step down

2. informal involving a rise by stages

noun

1. informal an increment in quantity, size, etc

step up Idioms  

1. Increase, especially in stages, as in We've got to step up production . [Early 1900s] Also see step down , def. 2.

2. Come forward, as in Step up to the podium, folks, and I'll show you how it works . [Mid-1600s]

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Etymology

Origin of step-up

First recorded in 1890–95; adj., noun use of verb phrase step up

Example Sentences

There is no step-up in basis for a gift.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

“One plausible interpretation is that the market is pricing a broad step-up in corporate profitability in response to the accelerating AI rollout, similar to what happened when China entered the World Trade Organization in 2001.”

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

Because of the step-up in basis at death, if your children inherit assets that aren’t in retirement accounts, they won’t be liable for taxes on capital gains earned during your lifetime.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Swapping allows for a step-up in cost basis for heirs, eliminating capital-gains tax on appreciated assets.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

Divested of nearly all technical phrases, an induction coil may be briefly described as a step-up transformer of small capacity.

From The Boy Mechanic: Volume 1 700 Things for Boys to Do by Popular Mechanics Co.

Related Words

• boost
• escalate
• hasten
• improve
• increase
• intensify
• quicken
• raise
• speed