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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-daun] / 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

And because step-down facilities for longer holds are in short supply, patients often remain in expensive emergency rooms for longer periods or are merely released.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 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

Conventional step-down converters often struggle when dealing with large differences between input and output voltage.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 10, 2026

If the pressure or voltage of the secondary coil is less than that of the primary, we have a "step-down" transformer.

From The Story of Great Inventions by Elmer Ellsworth Burns

Parmelin told a press conference in Bern that he had informed ministerial colleagues of his decision to step down on December 31.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Gov. Mikie Sherrill asked him to step down when an independent investigation found he committed sexual harassment and ethical violations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

The German food-delivery company had said in May that Östberg would step down in March of next year under plans for a leadership transition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Following his decision to step down, Hunt said he had done what he believed was in the "best interests" of the council and residents and communities that it represents.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

He glanced over at me and noticed Jazz and our dad sitting one step down.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

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