lockstep
Americannoun
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a way of marching in very close file, in which the leg of each person moves with and closely behind the corresponding leg of the person ahead.
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a rigidly inflexible pattern or process.
adjective
noun
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a method of marching in step such that the men follow one another as closely as possible
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a standard procedure that is closely, often mindlessly, followed
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progressing at exactly the same speed and in the same direction as other people or things, esp as a matter of course rather than by choice
Etymology
Origin of lockstep
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Forward-looking, one-year inflation expectations were already coming down quite dramatically in lockstep with lower energy prices, but they continued to plummet after that meeting,” he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
BP, in lockstep, took out a full-page ad.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
The American Petroleum Institute, which represents the oil and gas industry in the US, said fuel prices "don't move in lockstep with crude oil".
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
For most of 2025, the two grew in lockstep.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
Cultures do not develop with identical rhythms or evolve in lockstep.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
