doorstep

American  

[dawr-step, dohr-] / ˈdɔrˌstɛp, ˈdoʊr- /

noun

1. a step or one of a series of steps leading from the ground to a door.

2. British Slang. a thick slice of bread.

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doorstep British  

/ ˈdɔːˌstɛp /

noun

1. a step in front of a door

2. very close or accessible

3. informal a thick slice of bread

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verb

1. to canvass (a district) or interview (a member of the public) by or in the course of door-to-door visiting

2. (of a journalist) to wait outside the house of (someone) to obtain an interview, photograph, etc when he or she emerges

doorstep Idioms  

1. see under at one's door (on one's doorstep).

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Etymology

Origin of doorstep

First recorded in 1800–10; door + step

Example Sentences

Since then, the white and tabby cat, officially introduced on Downing Street's website as the "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office", has reigned supreme from the country's most photographed doorstep.

From Barron's

Referring to the video images of a masked man on her doorstep shortly before she disappeared, he said somebody somewhere would recognise the suspect based either on their behaviour or their body language.

From BBC

“We are painting our children’s names in the street and bringing this memorial to his doorstep because Evan Spiegel won’t acknowledge what his platform has taken from us,” she said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

That same day, the FBI released black-and-white surveillance photos and video from Nancy Guthrie’s doorstep showing a person wearing a ski mask, gloves and a backpack disabling the door camera.

From Salon

When we arrived on Aunt Melissa’s doorstep, she was livid.

From Literature

Related Words

• brink
• verge