step-up
adjective
effecting an increase.
step-up
American
[step-uhp]
/ ˈstɛpˌʌp /
Or
stepup
adjective
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effecting an increase.
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Electricity. serving to increase voltage.
a step-up transformer.
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(of a lease) allowing for gradual rent increases to the highest amount permissible.
noun
-
step-ups
plural
step up
British
verb
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(tr) to increase or raise by stages; accelerate
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(intr) to make progress or effect an advancement; be promoted
-
-
baseball to move into batting position
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to come forward and take responsibility for something
-
adjective
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(of a transformer) increasing a low voltage applied to the primary winding to a higher voltage on the secondary winding Compare step down
-
informal involving a rise by stages
noun
step up
Idioms
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Increase, especially in stages, as in We've got to step up production . [Early 1900s] Also see step down , def. 2.
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Come forward, as in Step up to the podium, folks, and I'll show you how it works . [Mid-1600s]
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of step-up
First recorded in 1890–95; adj., noun use of verb phrase step up
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.
See Examples For:
There's plenty of scope for Indian farmers to step-up production.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Jefferies estimates this represents a step-up in annual average revenue to A$192 million, from A$160 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
The fundraising would mark a step-up from DeepSeek’s previous valuation in June, when investors including Tencent valued the startup at more than $50 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported previously.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Rigg, who can operate as a defensive or attacking central midfielder, then made the step-up impressively, starting 11 Premier League matches, with a further seven appearances from the bench.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The current is derived directly from the engine, and the remaining things needed are a small step-up transformer, a key and a few other small parts.
From Tom Swift and His Wireless Message: or, the castaways of Earthquake island by Victor [pseud.] Appleton
He goes on many photo shoots with me, but does not bother to learn how to use the equipment or step up in organizing preproduction.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
OpenAI told reporters last week that its latest model represented artificial general intelligence and a big step up in capabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
She has steered clear of controversies that have occurred at CBS News since Bari Weiss was installed as editor-in-chief, and showed a willingness to step up for big assignments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Over the past year, businesses have scrambled to step up imports before new waves of US duties kicked in.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
He encouraged them all to step up and feel it.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Bryant said there are hundreds of exercises you can do on a playground, from step-ups to tricep dips.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 2, 2024
The signs point to several short-term factors coming together all at once — trade logjams, a surge in post-pandemic demand for goods, limited step-ups in oil production, labor demands for a living wage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2021
To increase the intensity, he suggests performing lunges or step-ups with weights or a backpack.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 26, 2021
Circuits might include running up stairs with weights on her back, box jumps, push-ups, pull-ups, dead lifts and step-ups.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2016
Clean and snatch was out of the question because of my back and squats because of my knee, so I got the pleasure of doing step-ups.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 26, 2014
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.
