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• step-down
  step-down

  adjective

  serving to reduce or decrease voltage.
• step down
  step down

  verb

  (tr) to reduce gradually

step-down

American  

[step-doun] / ˈstɛpˌdaʊn /

adjective

Electricity.

1. serving to reduce or decrease voltage.

   a step-down transformer.

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step down British  

verb

1. (tr) to reduce gradually

2. informal (intr) to resign or abdicate (from a position)

3. informal (intr) to assume an inferior or less senior position

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adjective

1. (of a transformer) reducing a high voltage applied to the primary winding to a lower voltage on the secondary winding Compare step up

2. decreasing or falling by stages

noun

1. informal a decrease in quantity or size

step down Idioms  

1. Resign from office, as in He threatened to step down if they continued to argue with him . [Late 1800s]

2. Reduce, especially in stages, as in They were stepping down the voltage . [c. 1900] Also see step up , def. 1.

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Etymology

Origin of step-down

First recorded in 1890–95; adj. use of verb phrase step down

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

step-down step down

This and a step-down in exits meant EQT’s fee-generating assets under management at the end of the first half exceeded expectations by 10 billion euros at 155.4 billion euros, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Still, revenue fell by roughly $678 million from the prior quarter, given Covid seasonality and a step-down in vaccination rates from 2025, Tsai noted.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

At the center of the new design is an improved version of a widely used component known as a DC-DC step-down converter.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 10, 2026

Another factor to consider: Are there any big expenses coming up that coincide with your sabbatical or step-down?

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 4, 2026

When the current reaches those places where it is to be used a low voltage is again obtained by the step-down transformer.

From The Niagara River by Archer Butler Hulbert

Today also marks the end of an era with the news that Warren Buffett will step down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Sara’s next step might be to ask Scott to step down from his presentation, leaving Scott in the dark as to why.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

CEO Shantanu Narayen is due to step down at the start of December, and the company recently named Anil Chakravarthy, the leader of its Customer Experience Orchestration business, to be his successor.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

Earlier on Wednesday the government said it had confidence in Rolfe, who has led Nats for 11 years as airlines such as Wizz Air and Ryanair called for him to step down.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

The sinew binding felt faintly warm, giving him the courage to step down onto the cave floor.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• abandon
• abdicate
• bow out
• drop out
• leave
• quit
• retire
• terminate