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

If your sister purchases the house, she and your brother’s other heirs would also lose their step-up in basis, a tax break that lets people inherit assets without paying hefty capital-gains tax.

From MarketWatch

If the Medline win helped assuage the former concern, a step-up in the share of its order backlog it can convert into revenue could help ease the latter.

From Barron's

The step-up to the Test arena is brutal.

From BBC

Wall Street and Silicon Valley are booming, and U.S. workers are finally getting a step-up in their real take-home pay.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you gift your daughter the house — leaving aside the debate over using “gift” as an adjective — your daughter would lose her step-up in basis.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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